Skimmia
Skimmia | |
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Genus: | Skimmia |
Type: | Shrubs |
Soil requirements: | Moist, fertile, well-drained |
Propagation: | Layering, cuttings |
Transplant: | Easily moved |
Pest issues: | rare |
Bloom season: | Early spring |
Fruit season: | Winter |
Skimmia is a genus of four species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the Rue family, Rutaceae, all native to warm temperate regions of Asia.
Description
[edit | edit source]The leaves are clustered at the ends of the shoots, simple lanceolate, 6-21 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, with a smooth margin. The flowers are borne in dense panicles, each flower small, 6-15 mm diameter, with 4-7 petals. The fruit is a red to black drupe 6-12 mm diameter, containing a single seed. All parts of the plant have a pungent aroma when crushed.
Growing conditions
[edit | edit source]Species
[edit | edit source]- Species and subspecies
- Skimmia anquetilia. Western Himalaya to Afghanistan. Shrub to 2 m.
- Skimmia arborescens. Eastern Himalaya to southeast Asia. Shrub or small tree to 15 m.
- Skimmia japonica. Japan, Korea, China. Shrub to 7 m.
- Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana (syn. S. reevesiana)
- Skimmia laureola. Nepal to Vietnam and China. Shrub or small tree to 13 m.
Uses
[edit | edit source]Skimmias are grown as garden plants for their foliage, flowers, and showy red fruits. They are grown in shade, with moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils. They are tolerant of both drought and air pollution. A large number of cultivars have been selected for garden use:
- Skimmia japonica 'Emerald King'
- Skimmia japonica 'Fragrans'
- Skimmia japonica 'Keessen'
- Skimmia japonica 'Kew White'
- Skimmia japonica 'Nymans'
- Skimmia japonica 'Rubella'
- Skimmia japonica 'Rubinetta'
- Skimmia japonica 'Ruby Dome'
- Skimmia japonica 'Wanto'
- Skimmia japonica 'White Gerpa'
- Skimmia japonica 'Veitchii'
- Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana 'Ruby King'
Maintenance
[edit | edit source]Propagation
[edit | edit source]Harvesting
[edit | edit source]Pests and diseases
[edit | edit source]Skimmias are fed on by Aphids, the Horse Chestnut Scale, the Garden Leafhopper, and the Southern Red Mite.