Skimmia
Check whether a plant is male or female (and plant both if berries are wanted) before assuming a lack of berries is a cultivation problem.
Care
One of the better flowering/berrying shrubs for a shadier spot.
Standard shrub watering.
Acidic to neutral, humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil; tolerates some lime but does best on acidic ground or ericaceous compost in pots.
Minimal — trim to shape after flowering if needed.
An ericaceous feed in spring, especially in a container. Yellow leaves on a skimmia are nearly always lime in the soil or the water rather than hunger, and an ericaceous feed helps with both.
Semi-ripe cuttings in late summer with bottom heat. Remember that most skimmias are single-sexed: a cutting from a female plant gives another female, which will need a male nearby if you want berries.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchLight ericaceous feed as growth resumes. how ›
- AprilThis genus is dioecious (separate male and female plants) — only female plants produce berries, and need a male nearby to pollinate them.
- AprilTrim to shape after flowering if needed. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchLight ericaceous feed as growth resumes. how ›
- AprilThis genus is dioecious (separate male and female plants) — only female plants produce berries, and need a male nearby to pollinate them.
- AprilTrim to shape after flowering if needed. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryLight ericaceous feed as growth resumes. how ›
- MarchThis genus is dioecious (separate male and female plants) — only female plants produce berries, and need a male nearby to pollinate them.
- MarchTrim to shape after flowering if needed. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryLight ericaceous feed as growth resumes. how ›
- MarchThis genus is dioecious (separate male and female plants) — only female plants produce berries, and need a male nearby to pollinate them.
- MarchTrim to shape after flowering if needed. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. On alkaline soil.
What to do. Switch to ericaceous compost in a pot, or feed with a chelated iron tonic.
Popular varieties
Questions
Skimmia: is it hardy?
H5: Hardy in most of the UK, but can struggle in the coldest inland or upland spots. It survives down to −15 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Does very well in a pot with ericaceous, peat-free compost, especially useful on alkaline soil.
Skimmia: when do you prune it?
Minimal — trim to shape after flowering if needed. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in April.
Skimmia: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in March–April.
When do you feed it?
An ericaceous feed in spring, especially in a container. Yellow leaves on a skimmia are nearly always lime in the soil or the water rather than hunger, and an ericaceous feed helps with both. Feeding months, UK: April.