Plant Profile: Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley'

Names

Vardar Valley Boxwood

  • Photo of Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' (Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley's)

Phonetic Spelling:BUK-sus sem-per-VEE-renz

Genus:Buxus

Species:sempervirens

Family:Buxaceae

Buxus sempervirens 'Vadar Valley' features striking, unique foliage that exhibits a powdery bluish-green hue. This variety thrives in a blend of sandy and clay soils, benefiting from a balance of sunlight and shade. It is crucial to avoid planting in areas with poor drainage. When grown in complete shade, the plant may not flourish as expected, resulting in reduced foliage. Conversely, exposure to full sun can lead to leaf scorching, browning in winter, and vulnerability to mite infestations. Morning sunlight is ideal for optimal growth.

The Vadar Valley Boxwood is amenable to pruning, but it is advisable to carry out this task after the last frost to prevent damage to tender new growth that may be affected by late frosts. To safeguard its shallow root system, a layer of mulch is recommended, and care should be taken to limit cultivation around these roots to avoid harming the plant.

The plant's location and maintenance significantly influence its overall health. To shield it from harsh winter winds and direct sunlight, choose a site that mitigates these conditions. Winter winds can lead to dehydration and bronzing of the foliage, so it is important to remove any snow accumulation to protect the branches. Annual thinning of the plant will enhance air circulation.

Among boxwood cultivars, 'Vadar Valley' is recognized for its cold hardiness. It demonstrates strong resistance to pests, boxwood blight, and is also deer-resistant.

For further details on Buxus sempervirens, please refer to additional resources.

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Feature Summary

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#fragrant flowers
#specimen
#bonsai
#winter interest
#accent plant
#rabbit resistant
#mass planting
#topiary
#hedges
#deer resistant
#foundation planting
#formal gardens
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#bee friendly
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Feature Summary

Fruit
Dehiscent capsule 1/3" long that matures to brown.
Green
Brown/Copper
< 1 inch
Flowers
Pale green non-showy
Gold/Yellow
Green
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leathery green leaves, holds color in winter. Green/blue on top of leaf, yellow on bottom.
Green
Blue
Gold/Yellow
Elliptical
Oblong
< 1 inch
Glossy
Smooth
Leathery
< 1 inch
Poisonous to Humans
Dogs and cats: vomiting, diarrhea; Horses: colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure, seizures
Attributes
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Landscape
Rock Garden
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Specimen
Container
Walkways
Lawn
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Fruit

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Fruit Description

Dehiscent capsule 1/3" long that matures to brown.

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Green

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Flowers

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Flower Description

Pale green non-showy

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Leaves

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Description

Leathery green leaves, holds color in winter. Green/blue on top of leaf, yellow on bottom.

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Poisonous to Humans

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Poison Symptoms

Dogs and cats: vomiting, diarrhea; Horses: colic, diarrhea, respiratory failure, seizures

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Poison Toxic Principle

Alkaloids

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Attributes

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Whole Plant Traits

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Cultural Conditions

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Stem

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley' Landscape

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Buxus sempervirens 'Vardar Valley': Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy