2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Sarcococca Lindl. isa genus of small to medium evergreen broadleaf shrubs in Buxaceae and has valuable landscape characteristics including fragrant winter flowers, few pests and diseases, and shade adaptability. Despite its desirable features, it is an underutilized plant in the landscape. To increase its popularity, we employed flow cytometry and ISSR molecular markers to clarify the taxonomic confusion and taxon delineation. From 38 Sarcococcaaccessions collected in US, almost half of them were unidentified or mislabeled. Both genomic data and ISSR markers provided baseline information for breeders, horticulturists, and gardeners interested in improving and utilizing Sarcococcaplants. With severe damage to members of the boxwood family from new pathogen boxwood blight, we were able to find a few Sarcococcataxa with resistance and conclude that all Sarcococcataxa were less susceptible to the disease than boxwood controls using detached leaf and detached stem assays. The genus originated in Southeast Asia and adapted well to a variety of soil and water conditions in US. The plant should be planted in partial shade to shade and could be used successfully in both formal and informal landscapes. Sarcococca is a slow-grower that preforms great as a groundcover, spreading by rhizomes to fill in gaps. From our research experimenting with different light conditions, we should be able to determine the ideal shade requirements for Sarcococca. We are also working on breeding and selecting new Sarcococca cultivarsthat should offer better appearance plants to our landscapes and gardens.