Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis Fragrant Valley

Sarcococca hookeriana var.humilis Fragrant Valley is distinguished by its low, dense and spreading growth, not exceeding 50 cm (20in) in height, and its long late winter flowering, accompanied by a sweet and light fragrance. Extremely elegant with its glossy dark green narrow leaves, it is a magnificent evergreen bush. This Hooker's Sarcococca prefers shade or partial shade under the foliage of deciduous trees for example, which will protect it from strong sunlight, where it will easily establish itself among the roots. Planted near a window or a frequented area, from January to March, the flowering exudes a beautiful sweet fragrance. It grows slowly but steadily in almost any well-drained soil but performs best in acidic to neutral soil, rich in humus and consistently moist. 

Sarcococca hookeriana var.humilis, commonly known as Hooker's Sarcococca or Himalayan Sweet Box, is a branching rhizomatous shrub belonging to the boxwood family. It is native to a vast region ranging from Afghanistan to the Himalayas and northeastern China. It is commonly found in the evergreen forests of these regions. The Fragrant Valley variety is a recent variety discovered in 2002. It originated from a random sowing of Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis and was selected by Gurjit Sidhu of Sidhu & Sons Nursery in Mission, British Columbia, Canada.

Sarcococca hookeriana var.humilis Fragrant Valley forms a small, dense, dwarf bush that will not exceed 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) in height. It is a rhizomatous species with sucker-forming and trailing branches that produce numerous shoots, ensuring a spread of 0.80 to 1 m (3ft). Its growth is quite slow. Its dense foliage is composed of narrow, elliptical, pointed leaves measuring 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) long and 1 to 1.5 cm (1in) wide. These evergreen leaves are only renewed after several years, thus forming a very dense and well-furnished clump. In January, the dormant flower buds open as soon as the temperatures rise for a few days. The flowering consists of a multitude of tiny white and pink tubular flowers grouped in small clusters blooming in the axils of the leaves. They measure no more than 3 to 5 mm (1in) in length, have no petals, and only show very developed pale yellow-green stamens. They release a strong and sweet fragrance for several metres, resembling that of hyacinth. This fragrant flowering lasts for about 2 months, depending on the climate. When pollinated, the female flowers produce small dark red to black, shiny fruits, non-edible but non-toxic.

In the category of Sarcococcas, there is a great diversity of varieties, each as unique as the next, the Sarcococca hookeriana var.humilis Fragrant Valley, stands out for its attractive spreading habit and delicately scented flowering. It prefers acidic soils and shade from strong sunlight, making it a great companion for ferns, witch hazels, skimmias, aucubas, andromedas and azaleas. Placed near a terrace, along a path or above a wall, its highly fragrant flowering will enliven a shady rockery, a border or an understory bed in winter. Cultivated in pots, it will perfume balconies, terraces or patios.