My Sarcococca orientalis already bloomed in December, but my Sarcococca confusa is covered in buds which have not opened yet. Here where I am in Southern California, the buds form in the fall and get bigger and bigger through the winter and bloom in the early spring.

I saw those little buds, seems like a hundred years ago, and thought Here We Go At Last! They're still sitting there, taking their time...

It seems a little late to me. All my sarcococcas start blooming in December and have pretty much bloomed out by now, even those in pretty heavy shade. I would think in your milder climate, they'd have already bloomed by now or be in bloom currently.

My S. orientalis bloomed in December, but my S. confusa blooms in the spring. The buds are very swollen and will open any time now.

I check mine every day to see if the blooming is starting but still no blooms. I'm sure it will bloom in the next few weeks I hope..... last weekend I brought one to my best friend in Santa Maria for her birthday so I hope she isn't disapointed, I told her it will smell really nice soon and to leave it by her front entrance. Her's had buds just like mine. I don't even know what they smell like, can you describe?

My Sarcococca never bloomed? What's up with that?

Maybe it's too young? I've heard they can take a few years to bloom. That's what I'm hoping anyway.

mine is a few years old and gets buds that never open. Ever. I'd get rid of it, but I remember it cost $35...

Well, in its favor, it takes shade and isn't picky about water or feeding (unlike "other" fragrants we moan about here), so I guess I'll let it stick around.