SKIMMIA
A WONDERFUL WINTER SHADE
PLANT
Handsome dark green leaves; showy white spring flowers and attractive bright
red berries combine to make skimmia an ideal plant for the winter shade garden.
Because there are several varieties which have varying growth habits, skimmia's
are especially nice plants for borders, foundation plantings, spot color
in the landscape or to use in containers.
Skimmia has a compact, bushy growth habit and the dark green foliage provides
an excellent background for the showy flowers and berries. Cut branches with
berries are sometimes used as a substitute for holly, during the holiday
season. The cut branches can also be used in flower arrangements, with berries
or flowers or as a filler.
LOCATION
An evergreen, the plant should be grown in full shade or part sun and shade,
yet probably 90 percent of the plants growing in gardens around the northwest
are situated in full sun. The foliage of such plants is often an off-color
yellow-green which destroys their beauty. If you have a skimmia planted in
the wrong location in your garden, right now during the dormant season is
a good time to move it to a more suitable spot.
Choose a spot in the shade garden where the soil is well drained. I think
you will find that the best display is achieved when three or more plants
are clustered together. Offset the plants in a diamond pattern so they will
provide a nice spot of color.
PLANTING
Like Rhododendrons, Azaleas and camellias it's important to plant Skimmia
right at ground level. If the plants are set too deeply into the soil they
will not flower. So be sure the top of the root ball is level with soil surface.
Then be careful not to cover over the root ball with bark, sawdust or other
mulching materials.
As you prepare the planting hole it is a good practice to mix peat moss;
compost or processed manure with your existing soil. Remember planting time
is the only time you can get organic humus right into the root zone, and
by properly preparing the soil, it will encourage better top growth and a
healthier plant.
FEEDING
Although Skimmia does not require heavy feeding, it will benefit from an
occasional application
of a rhododendron type fertilizer. When to feed, can be determined by the
appearance of the foliage, if the plant is bright healthy green, delay
fertilization. However, if growth is stunted or foliage is an off-color green,
then feeding should take place. The best time to feed skimmia is in late
winter or late spring. Apply according to label instructions, and be sure
to water-in the fertilizer, after application.
PRUNING
Skimmia is one of those plants that has a neat compact habit-of-growth and
seldom needs pruning of any kind. If you find that a plant does require trimming,
the winter dormant season is a good time to do it. Trimming at that time
provides cut branches for holiday decorating. The spring months of March,
April or May are also ideal for pruning. Simply prune back any leggy growth,
to create a nice symmetrical habit of growth.
VARIETIES
The two varieties generally grown here are japonica and reevesiana. So here
are a few things you should know about each one:
Skimmia japonica. This variety needs a male pollinizer in order to set berries.
Male plants are slightly larger than female plants, attaining heights of
up to five feet at maturity. They have much large flower cluster too.
Female plants bear berries when a male pollinizing plant is present. Flowers
in the early stages of bloom may be tinged pink, but soon open white and
are fragrant. Oval shaped leaves are two to four inches long. In addition
to the red berried varieties, there is one that produces white berries.
Skimmia reevesiana. A very attractive dwarf variety that seldom attains a
height of over two feet, and a width of two to three feet. The major benefit
of this variety is that it is self-pollinating, so only one plant is needed
set berries. Fragrant white flowers are followed by the late fall and early
winter red berries.
In the past, some nursery firms and specialty growers have developed other
varieties under their own trade names. If you choose one, just be sure to
find-out if it needs a pollinizer to set berries.
PROBLEMS
If you have a plant in your garden that is not bearing berries, one of the
following could be the cause:
1) The plant is a 'Male' non-bearing variety.
2) The plant is a 'Female' that needs a pollinizing plant nearby.
3) The plant is planted too deeply, and needs to be raised in the soil. Remember
the plant must flower, before it can set berries.
Here in the northwest Skimmia is also susceptible to spider mite damage.
This is most often noticed by a white or yellow discoloration of the leaves.
If this occurs I suggest you take a magnifying glass and look for the miniature
spider-mites on the under-sides of the leaves. This pest can usually be
controlled by an environmentally friendly, refined oil spray.
PROPAGATION
New plants are often started by tip cuttings. The cuttings are started in
a greenhouse in either mid-summer or during the winter dormant season months
of November thru February. Used a starting media of 50% fresh water sand
and 50% peat moss. Keep rooting media temperatures at approximately 70 degrees.
Skimmia is an ideal evergreen to add to the garden for bright winter color.
The leaves, flowers and berries are attractive in the garden, plus the cut
branches can be used to brighten up the home.
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