I'm in Oakland, CA (zone 9B, Sunset zone 17) and I've had 3 sarcococcas planted for about 2.5 years. They're in a fairly shady spot, under a deciduous tree, but it is facing south. So a few hours/dappled light in the summer, and full sun in the winter. It's in a drip irrigation system, and was watered ~1 gal every 4 days the first year and more deeply but less often in following years. I gave it a slow release fertilizer and compost in Feb of this year too.

None of them have grown much at all (less than a foot over the 2-3 years), except for these single long branches - with this one in the corner having some that are almost 4ft long. The leaves all look healthy, there are flowers and fruit, and minimal insects.