Side by side
Japanese pieris or Japanese skimmia? How to tell them apart
Pieris japonica · Skimmia japonica
How to tell them apart – Japanese pieris: evergreen shrub with rosettes of glossy leaves, red young shoots and hanging sprays of white bells in March; Japanese skimmia: untoothed, aromatic leaves and red buds in winter.
How do you recognise them?
- Japanese pieris
- Evergreen shrub with rosettes of glossy leaves, red young shoots and hanging sprays of white bells in March.
- Japanese skimmia
- Low evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves at the shoot tips and red flower buds in winter.
- Compared with Japanese pieris: untoothed, aromatic leaves and red buds in winter.
| Japanese pieris | Japanese skimmia | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | In rosettes at the shoot tips, 3–8 cm, narrowly oval, finely toothed and leathery; young leaves copper to fiery red. | Alternate, in rosettes at the shoot tips, 5–10 cm, untoothed; aromatic when crushed. |
| Flowering | Hanging sprays of small white or pink bells (like lily of the valley) in March–April; the buds are ready all winter (March–April). | Red or pink buds all winter; small, fragrant white flowers in March–April (March–May). |
| Fruit | Small, dry capsules. | Red berries on female plants (with a male plant nearby); poisonous. |
| Bark | Greyish-brown, flaky. | Greenish to grey. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 1–3 m | Shrub, 0.5–1.5 m |
| Site | Partial shade or shade, acid soil, normal | Partial shade or shade, acid soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees | Yes, for bees |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | May | April–May |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Japanese pieris is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Japanese skimmia is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
Read on
- Plant profile: Japanese pieris
- Plant profile: Japanese skimmia
- Japanese pieris: when and how to prune
- Japanese skimmia: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
- Photinia or Japanese pieris
- Cherry laurel or Japanese skimmia
- Mexican orange blossom or Japanese skimmia
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.