Skimmia
Skimmia
- Position: full sun to partial shade
- Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH
- Flowering period: March to May
- Height: 1-1,5m
- Foliage: evergreen
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Skimmias are fantastic for adding colour to the winter garden. These compact, evergreen shrubs are great for a small garden. Also suitable for planting in pots. Not all skimmias will produce berries.
A female plant bears red berries only if a male partner is sited nearby. A male shrub only produces flowers.
Skimmias ( female)
Skimmia japonica ‘Pabella’
Skimmia japonica ‘Pabella’ has dark, striking, green elliptic leaves with fragrant white flowers in spring. Bright, red berries appear in autumn.
Skimmia japonica ‘Obsession’
Another to try is Skimmia japonica ‘Obsession’ whose berries have an intense, rich red colour.
Skimmia japonica reevesiana
Skimmia japonica reevesiana is a self-fertile variety (hermaphrodite), so doesn’t need a male skimmia to produce berries.
Skimmia japonica ‘White Globe’ Skimmia japonica reevesiana
Skimmias (male)
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’. In autumn dark clusters of red flowers buds which look pretty throughout the winter. Flowers appear in April. Attains a height and a spread of 1,5m x 1,5m.
Skimmia japonica ‘Magic Marlot’
Skimmia japonica ‘Magic Marlot’ is a variegated version with white-yellow margins and white flowers buds, maturing to deep pink. It will grow to about 0,7m tall.
Skimmia japonica ‘White Globe’
If you prefer white buds consider Skimmia japonica ‘White Globe’ or Skimmia japonica ‘Fragrans’
Pruning
A skimmia needs little pruning but if necessary do this job in spring after flowering has finished. Trim lightly. The plant doesn’t respond well to hard pruning.
Planting
Add lots of compost or leaf mould to the soil before planting. Compost keeps the moisture in the soil.
Leaves on Skimmia are turning yellow
Skimmia prefers partial to full sun and grows well in neutral to slightly acidic soil. Full sun can cause the leaves to turn yellow. Alkaline soil can also cause yellow leaves on skimmia
Plant combination
Skimmias work well with Camellia , Rhododendron, Leucothoe , Festuca glauca.
Leucothoe ‘Curly Red’
