Skimmia japonica
Japanese Skimmia
Japan
Dense mounding shrub, round to dome-shaped.
Part sun or shade; rich, moist, slightly acidic soils.
Mixed shrub plantings; effective in containers. Dirr says appearance is of dainty proportions.
Alternate (may appear whorled at branch ends), elliptic-oblong, entire, 2.5 to 5 inches long. New growth is bright green, matures to dark green above and pale green below. Visible glands. Fragrant when crushed.
Buds are green tinged with purple-red; fragrant when bruised.
Green tinged with purple-red; fragrant when bruised.
Small .33 inch flowers on upright panicles, dark red opening to cream-white in early spring. Attractive peduncles/pedicels are purple-red and glossy. Dioecious; male plants have slightly larger flowers.
Red, round, .33 inch drupes.
Seed, cuttings.
'Bronze Knight' - Lustrous dark green sharply pointed, leaves tinted red in winter.
'Magic Marlot' (PP 16,884) - Young leaves have yellow margins, maturing to cream; flower buds initiate cream in summer, bronze in autumn, dark pinkish red in winter.
'Veitchii' ('Foremanii') - Vigorous form with broad-obovate leaves and large clusters of red fruits.
