Skimmia

Skimmia: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact, dome-shaped shrub 0.5–1 m tall and up to 1.5 m wide; slow-growing.

Leaves

Lance-shaped, 6–12 cm, glossy mid-green; aromatic when crushed.

Flowers

Dense, conical clusters of small, star-shaped flowers in March–April. The buds are on show from autumn.

Colour

Green buds opening to creamy-white to pale greenish-white flowers.

Scent

Strong and sweet; on a still day you can smell it several metres away.

Fruit

‘Kew Green’ is male and bears no berries.

Flowering: March–April · Plants: April–May and September–October · Pruning: May

Why grow it?

• Evergreen and compact: a fresh, rounded shrub for shade all year round.
• The green buds decorate the garden or a pot from autumn to spring.
• Highly scented flowers in March–April, when little else is in bloom.
• An early source of pollen and nectar for bees and bumblebees.
• Ideal for a shady front garden, a north-facing spot or a winter pot by the front door.

Skimmia: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade or shade: in full sun the leaves turn yellow.
• Humus-rich soil: sandy, loamy or peaty, acid to neutral. On chalky soil the leaves turn yellow.
• Average, slightly moist soil that drains well; it does not tolerate wet feet.
• Sheltered from cold, drying winds.
• Allow 1–1.2 m per plant; as a low hedge, 60–80 cm apart.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or peat

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

1 m tall, 1.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Hellebore: Flowers in winter, in the same partial shade.
• Ferns: Fine green foliage beside the glossy skimmia.
• Snowdrop: Small white flowers at its feet, just before the skimmia blooms.
• Hosta: Large leaves in summer, when the skimmia is quietly green.
• Barrenwort: An evergreen ground cover for the shade beneath the shrub.

Skimmia: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September–October.

1. Plant in April–May or September–October.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in leaf mould or peat-free ericaceous compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot, no deeper: the base of the stems must not be buried.
4. Keep 1–1.2 m from other shrubs.
5. Water in thoroughly straight away, even if it is raining.
6. Spread a layer of leaf mould or bark around the base to keep the soil cool.

Care

Watering

Regularly in dry spells in the first year. Later only in long dry periods; more often in a pot.

Feeding

In April, some compost or an organic ericaceous feed.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould or bark keeps the soil acid, cool and moist.

Spent flowers

Cut off the spent clusters in May; this keeps the shrub tidy.

In a pot

A pot with drainage holes, ericaceous compost and a layer of gravel at the bottom. Repot after a few years.

Tip: Plant it in shade or partial shade in humus-rich, acid soil: in full sun or on chalk the leaves turn yellow. Place it near a path or the front door so you can enjoy the scent in March.

Skimmia: when to prune it?

Pruning months: May.

When: Hardly ever needed. If you do prune, do it in May, after flowering.

How:

• Cut off the spent flower clusters just above the leaves.
• Shorten stems that stick out or grow crooked to keep the rounded shape.
• Remove dead or frosted stems.

Caution: Do not prune in summer or autumn: you would remove the new flower buds for the following spring.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In August–September: 8–10 cm cuttings from this year’s shoots, lower leaves removed, in moist cutting compost under plastic in a cool, light place.

Layering

In spring, peg a low stem down under some soil; after a year, sever it and replant.

Skimmia: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Hardy to about −20 °C: in Belgian gardens it simply stays outside.
• The green flower buds decorate it all winter and cope well with frost.
• Cold east winds and winter sun can turn the leaves brown; a sheltered spot helps.
• In a pot: stand it against a wall and wrap the pot in hessian or bubble wrap so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Yellow leaves: Caused by too much sun, chalky soil, waterlogged soil or lack of food. Move it into shade, mulch with bark and use an ericaceous feed.
• Scale insects: Brown or white scales on leaves and stems, and sticky leaves. Wipe them off with a cloth or brush and cut out badly affected stems.
• Vine weevil: Half-moon notches in the leaf edges; the grubs eat the roots, especially in pots. Pick off the beetles at night by torchlight or use nematodes against the grubs.
• Root rot: The plant wilts despite wet soil. Plant in a well-drained spot and make sure a pot has a drainage hole.

Through the year

• March: Flowering with a strong scent. Bees visit the flowers.
• April: Flowering. Give compost or feed. Plant.
• May: Cut off spent flower clusters. Plant.
• June: Top up the mulch. Water in dry spells.
• August: Take semi-ripe cuttings. Water pots regularly.
• September: New flower buds become visible. Plant.
• October: Plant. Use it in a winter pot.
• December: Green buds decorate the garden. Protect pots from hard frost.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of skimmia are poisonous if eaten, including the red berries of female plants: they can cause stomach and gut upsets, in children as well as in dogs and cats. The well-known cultivar ‘Kew Green’ is a male plant and bears no berries itself, but it is often planted next to female skimmias, and branches with buds or berries are also used in autumn containers and Christmas arrangements. Keep containers and arrangements out of reach of small children and pets, and clear up the clippings. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Skimmia belongs to the rue family, like citrus: that is why the crushed leaves smell aromatic.
• The flower buds form as early as autumn and stay closed all winter.
• ‘Kew Green’ is a male plant: it bears no berries itself, but it can pollinate female skimmias nearby.