Plants
Skimmia
Skimmia japonica · Rutaceae
Skimmia is the quiet queen of autumn and winter planting: a compact evergreen dwarf shrub whose wine-red bud clusters decorate from October right through to flowering in spring. Hardly any other plant bridges the dark season so reliably in boxes, pots and grave bowls. We buy our skimmias in compact, well-rooted quality directly at the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Light
- Partial to full shade; does not tolerate harsh midday sun.
- Watering
- Evenly moist, ideally with soft water; no waterlogging.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Skimmia japonica
Skimmia japonica is dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants. The best-known variety in the trade is the male „Rubella“ with dense wine-red bud panicles that hold all winter and open into fragrant creamy-white flowers in April. Female varieties such as „Nymans“ carry bright red berries after pollination; the variety „Reevesiana“ is self-fertile and berries even without a partner.
As an understorey plant from Asian mountain forests, skimmia loves partial to full shade. In blazing sun the foliage yellows and looks pale, which is often mistaken for nutrient deficiency. The second typical mistake is hard tap water: like rhododendron, skimmia is an acid-lover and wants sour, humus-rich soil.
In floristry it is everywhere in autumn and winter. We plant it in grave bowls for All Saints, in winter boxes with erica, ivy and conifer greens, and in Advent containers, where the red buds look like little berries but last far longer. As a cut branch, skimmia is also a fixed item at the auction for winter arrangements.
When buying we look for compact, dense growth and rich green foliage right down to the base. A well-grown skimmia gains only a few centimetres a year and stays pleasantly small at around 80 to 120 centimetres, making it ideal for pots and small gardens.
Good to know: the attractive red berries of female plants are toxic and tempting for children. If you want to be on the safe side, choose the male „Rubella“, which carries only buds and flowers but no fruit.
Is Skimmia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Toxic
- Cats
- Toxic
- Dogs
- Toxic
All parts of the plant, especially the red berries, contain toxic alkaloids (including skimmianine). The berries are tempting for children; keep the plant out of reach of children and pets.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion: vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; larger amounts can cause circulatory problems and cardiac arrhythmia.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Partial to full shade; blazing sun makes the foliage yellow.
- 02Use acidic, humus-rich soil (ericaceous compost), no limy substrates.
- 03Keep evenly moist with rainwater or softened water, avoid waterlogging.
- 04Hardy in pots to around -15 °C; protect the container with fleece or hessian in lasting frost.
- 05Feed with rhododendron fertiliser in spring; pruning is hardly ever needed.
- 06Place berry-bearing female plants out of reach of small children.
Frequently asked
- Why does my skimmia not get red berries?
- Skimmias are dioecious: only female plants carry berries, and only if a male pollinator grows nearby. The widespread variety „Rubella“ is male and never berries — its ornament is the red buds. If you want berries, plant a female variety such as „Nymans“ plus a partner, or the self-fertile „Reevesiana“.
- Is skimmia toxic to cats and dogs?
- Yes. All parts of skimmia, above all the berries, contain toxic alkaloids. If eaten, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in larger amounts, circulatory problems can occur. Position pots and bowls so that pets and small children cannot reach the plant.
- Why are the leaves of my skimmia turning yellow?
- The two most common causes are too much sun and hard tap water. Skimmia is a shade plant for acidic soils; in blazing sun and at a high pH the foliage yellows (chlorosis). A partially shaded spot, ericaceous compost and rainwater usually set the plant right again.
- Is skimmia hardy?
- Planted out, Skimmia japonica is reliably hardy in our region. In a pot the root ball is more exposed: in lasting frost wrap the container in fleece, raise it on feet and water on frost-free days, since evergreens keep transpiring in winter.