Scientific Name:
Skimmia japonica
Pronunciation:
SKIMM-ee-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh
Common Name:
Japanese skimmia
Family Name:
Rutaceae
Plant Type:
Broadleaf evergreen
Key ID Features:
Small to medium evergreen shrub; leaves obovate, spicy scent; flowers reddish in bud then creamy white in mid-spring. Winter ID: persistent red fruit on female plants.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
1.0 - 1.5m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China (Japan)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Well-drained
Water Use:
High
Landscape Uses:
Ground cover, Group or mass planting, Hedge row, Mixed shrub border, Screening, Small garden/space, Spring interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include S. 'Rubella'. Compare to Reeves skimmia (smaller size, narrower leaves, bisexual flowers, and ovoid fruit).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Elliptic
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Panicle, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Dioecious plant
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Spicy
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar, Apr
Additional Info:
Flowers may appear to have both stamens and pistils but individual plants are functionally uni sexual.
Fruit Type:
Drupe
Fruit Colour:
Red
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Persistent, poisonous
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Brown
Propagation:
Softwood cuttings
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
Scale insects (Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
- Level 4 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (GAZ) GAZebo
- (GAZN) GAZebo North : ssp. reevesiana
- (LTW) Langley Township Walk
- (ONE) Overpass North side East
- (ONW) Overpass North side West