Skimmias are the ideal winter plant for fragrant flowers and berries
Skimmia are a species of medium sized evergreen shrubs originating from the Himalayas, C. They flower early, over winter, so are a good plant to give colour and fragrance when there is little else. They are a good plant as they are hardy, easy to grow and require little maintenance; they also grow well in containers and look well surrounded winter bedding. They make a good small compact hedge, growing to a height of 90cm. They can reach a height of 6ft , but this will take a few years. The male plants have red buds opening to fragrant creamy white flowers. The females are less strongly scented but will bear berries in the autumn, however they will need a male plant.
Position
They like semi shade out of direct midday sun as this can scorch their leaves. They need an acid, humus rich soil, so if you have a limey soil it may be better to grow them in containers in ericaceous compost.
Planting
Add a spadeful of ericaceous compost to the planting hole and mulch with the same material to help conserve moisture. Plant to the same depth as in the pot.
Feeding and watering
Make sure to water well in the few weeks after planting, after that it should have put down enough roots to reach moisture. Sprinkle with a little ericaceous feed in the spring; if it is not fed the leaves start turning yellow after several years and it may need feeding with sequestered iron.
Pruning
It is a compact, slow growing plant so requires little or no pruning; just take out any damaged stems in spring.
Varieties available in Powerscourt Garden Pavilion
Skimmia pabella beautiful red berries all year.
Skimmia reevesiana creamy white flowers in summer strong red berries in winter.
Skimmia fragrant cloud beautiful white/pink flowers in winter.
Skimmia rubella beautiful red flower buds turning to white flowers in winter.
Justin Smyth, Horticulturalist at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion
