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Skimmia Growing Guide
They are hardy, evergreen shrubs that give year-round interest to shady borders and containers.
Do they like sun or shade?
Skimmias prefer to be planted in a position where they are in either dappled, partial or full shade. Avoid planting in full sun as that can cause the leaves to become scorched.
What soil do they like?
Their ideal soil is moist and rich with a slightly acidic pH such as ericaceous compost and feed with an ericaceous fertiliser on a fortnightly basis from April to October.
When should they be pruned?
Skimmias are slow-growing compact shrubs which make them low maintenance, requiring little to no pruning but if you do need to prune it, we recommend a light trim after flowering. You can also use flowers and berries in floral arrangements.
Can I grow my Skimmia in a container?
You absolutely can, if you're on chalky soil then we would advise planting in a container with ericaceous compost!
How do I know if it is a male or female plant?
The female Skimmia produces berries and you will need a male plant for pollination. To tell the sex of a Skimmia, look closely at the individual flowers as the female will have a central pistil in the middle whereas males have four stamens sitting on a short stem.
We often have Skimmia japonica Rubella and Skimmia x confusa Kew Green at our garden centre and they are both male. However, Skimmia japonica Reevesiana will produce berries on its own as it’s a hermaphrodite.
Ericaceous soil and food
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We look forward to seeing you gardening,
Matthew, Charlotte and all the Team
