Shrub
Japanese skimmia
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in March | Flowers in April | Flowers in May | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in September | Plant in October | ||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in January | Looks good in February | Looks good in March | Looks good in April | Looks good in May | Looks good in October | Looks good in November | Looks good in December |
Overview
Skimmia japonica forms neat domes of leathery, aromatic leaves. Male plants such as 'Rubella' carry clusters of deep red buds all winter that open into fragrant creamy flowers in spring, beloved of early bees. Female plants such as 'Nymans' produce glossy red berries in autumn and winter, but only with a male close by. Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana is self-fertile, and 'Kew Green' has greenish-white buds.
Where to grow japanese skimmia
Shade or part shade under trees, on a north-facing border or in a courtyard suits it well; strong sun bleaches the leaves yellow. It prefers neutral to acid, humus-rich soil and struggles on thin chalk. Skimmia is popular in winter pots and window boxes alongside hellebores and sweet box.
Planting
Plant in autumn or spring into soil improved with leaf mould or composted bark. In containers, use ericaceous compost, especially in hard-water areas. Plant one male for every few females if you are growing for berries.
Care through the year
Spring
Feed with an ericaceous or general fertiliser after flowering and mulch with leaf mould.
Summer
Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly for pot-grown plants, and shade them in heatwaves.
Autumn
Plant new skimmias and refresh winter containers now that berries and buds are colouring.
Winter
Enjoy the buds and berries; pots need little water but should not dry out completely.
Pruning
Skimmias grow slowly and keep a tidy shape on their own, so regular pruning is not needed. If a stem spoils the outline, remove it in spring after flowering, cutting back to a leaf joint.
Propagation
Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer root in a cold frame or on a shaded windowsill. Taking cuttings from known male or female plants guarantees which sex you get, unlike seedlings.
Common problems
Yellowing leaves usually mean too much sun, starvation or alkaline soil rather than disease. Plants in pots are vulnerable to vine weevil grubs, and scale insects occasionally appear on stems. Waterlogged roots can lead to root rot.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in March, April, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.