With its red flower buds, white flowers and red berries, the Skimmia is a beautiful sight in the garden in both summer and winter.
There are only a few plants that also have ornamental value in winter. Skimmia japonica is definitely one of them. The striking red flower buds, red berries and dark green foliage remain throughout winter. In spring, the many white flowers exude a pleasant scent.
Skimmie: flower, origin and characteristics
Skimmias belong to the rue family (Rutaceae), which also includes citrus plants such as oranges or lemons. The most well-known genus is Skimmia japonica (synonym: Skimmia fragrans), which is also known under the names Japanese, dwarf or flower Skimmia . Skimmias are native to eastern Asia and grow in shady, cool, damp locations in the forests of China, Korea, and Japan. The plants have dark green, laurel-like leaves and reach a height of approx. 1.5 m. They are among the few evergreen ornamental trees and have a high ornamental value even in winter. In autumn, the shrubs form flower buds in panicles, which are usually bright red in color and remain in place throughout the winter. Between May and April, the small individual flowers open and have a pleasant scent. The flower color is white to pink.
Most skimmias are dioecious, i.e. there are plants that only have male flowers and plants that only have female flowers. Both types produce the typical flower buds, but only the female plants develop the approx. 1 cm large berries, which slowly turn red in summer. In order for these berries to develop, a male plant is also required nearby to produce the required pollen. You can tell if you have a male or female Skimmia plant by looking closely at the individual flowers. Female flowers have a central pistil in the center of the flower, while male flowers usually have four stamens on a short stalk, the filament. If you plant skimmias in the garden and harvest berries from themyou need at least one male plant. This is the only way that berries can develop on the female Skimmia.
Tip: The varieties sold in stores are either male or female. Male Skimmia varieties are sold as Flower Skimmia and female varieties as Fruit Skimmia.
The most beautiful Skimmia varieties and species
- Skimmia japonica 'Rubella': This variety belongs to the flower Skimmia, i.e. to the purely male varieties. The flower buds are dark red and the flowers are light pink.
- Skimmia japonica 'Temptation': It is a female variety or skimmia fruit. When the white flowers are fertilized, they produce bright red small berries from August to September.
- Skimmia japonica 'Veitchii': The variety is also a fruit skimmia with red fruits. The flowers are white to pink in color.
- Skimmia reevesiana: This Skimmia species has male and female flowers. A plant alone is therefore able to produce fruit. The flowers of Skimmia reevesiana are light pink and the berries are red.
Planting Skimmia: location, time and procedure
Skimmias thrive best in a sheltered, shady spot with little direct sunlight. You can plant skimmias as a single shrub or in a group. When planting as a single shrub, a distance of 1.5 m should be maintained. In a group planting, no more than three plants per square meter should be planted. You can plant skimmias all year round in frost-free weather, but autumn is best to ensure good growth. The shrubs love a humus-rich, nutrient-rich and slightly acidic soil with a pH of 4.8 - 5.2. Good neighboring plants include rhododendrons or heather plants. If the soil is too alkaline, adding an acidic soil is recommended. With a pH of 4.6 to 5.4, our Plantura organic acidic soil is an ideal way to reduce the pH in the desired area.
The soil should be kept constantly moist. To do this, dig a hole for each plant that is about twice as big and deep as the root ball and fill it halfway with the acidic soil. Now you should explore the earth extensivelywater and use a shovel to mix the potting soil and the soil of the hole well. This allows the peat contained to absorb the water and swell. Then the skimmia can be placed in the middle of the hole and the planting hole filled with the acidic soil. Press the soil down firmly and water the plant abundantly again after planting. In the first few weeks after planting, the soil should always be kept moist.
Summary: Plant Skimmias
- Planting in acidic soil, if necessary adding acidic soil
- Dig out the planting hole and if necessary fill halfway with acidic soil
- Mix everything with plenty of water ("swamp")
- Place plant in planting hole and fill with acidic soil
- Don't press the soil too hard, water generously again
Plant Skimmie in the tub:
- Fill a sufficiently large pot with slightly acidic plant substrate
- In summer you should water regularly
- In winter, the bucket must be protected from frost
- Skimmias are not suitable as houseplants: they need a cool and humid environment and a cold hibernation
Skimmia care: pruning, watering and fertilizing
Skimmia also tolerate colder temperatures. There is also not much to consider when it comes to maintenance.
Water and fertilize
Young plants should be watered at least every two weeks. Mature plants only need to be watered during longer periods of drought. A dose of slow-release fertilizer per year in spring is quite sufficient for good growth. Acidic fertilizers lower pH on alkaline soils.
Cutting Skimmia
Skimmies hardly need any pruning. Faded inflorescences can be removed. Female inflorescences should be left in place to allow the red berries to develop. Unfavorably growing shoots can easily be shortened.
Yellow leaves on the skimmie: what to do?
Skimmias usually grow without any problems. If the leaves are yellow, something is wrong.
- Too much sun/drought: Skimmias can form yellow spots on the leaves if the air is too much sun and the air is too dry. It is important to provide adequate shading and moist soil at the root of the skimmiaworry.
- Unfavorable soil: Another reason could be soil that is too basic or too calcareous, because the skimmia has difficulty absorbing nutrients from such. Acidic soil or fertilizers that are acidic can lower the pH of the soil around plants.
- Nutrient deficiency: If there is a nutrient deficiency, it is often due to the nutrient elements iron, magnesium or nitrogen. In the case of a nitrogen deficiency, the older leaves appear light green to yellow first, depending on the severity of the deficiency. The leaves are evenly colored. If there is a magnesium deficiency, the older leaves are also affected first, but the leaf veins remain green for a long time. Iron deficiency, on the other hand, first appears on the younger leaves, but the leaf veins also remain green. If the soil of the skimmie is too alkaline, a combination of magnesium and potassium deficiencies can also occur. An acidic fertilizer can help lower the pH. Our Plantura organic hydrangea fertiliser is also suitable for skimmia and other bog plants because it lowers the pH value and contains iron to compensate for soil deficiencies.
Summary: Fix Yellow Leaves on Skimmia
- Choose a shady place
- Plant in acidic substrate
- Use special fertilizer for ericaceous plants with an acidic effect
- Always water with acidic rainwater, avoid tap water
Increase Skimmie
Skimmia can be propagated quite easily. The easiest way to do this is with cuttings. The new plants retain the sex of the mother plant. To do this, cut off approx. 15 - 20 cm long shoots between June and September and remove the lower 3 - 4 leaves. Put the cuttings in a pot with acidic soil mixed with a third of sand and water the cuttings vigorously. Make sure that the substrate is permanently moist during the growth phase. The Skimmia should be overwintered in a frost-free place.
Wintering: Is the Skimmia hardy?
Most Skimmia varieties are hardy and tolerate temperatures of - 20 °C without any problems. Adult specimens do not need winter protection in most regions, but freshly planted and younger plants should be protected in winter. It is best to cover these plants with a layer of leaves, fir branches or straw.
Plants in tubs should be overwintered in a cool but frost-free placewill. The plants should at least get some light.
Is the Skimmia poisonous?
All parts of Skimmia are considered mildly poisonous. They contain alkaloids, which, in small amounts, mainly cause nausea. For pets, the plants are usually not particularly interesting. However, the red berries are popular food for birds in winter.
Skimmias aren't the only beautiful ornamental shrubs that do well in acidic environments. Rhododendrons also prefer acidic soils and show their lush flowers there during the summer. This article will tell you how to plant and care for rhododendrons.