Plant, care for, overwinter and more

Thanks to Skimmia japonica, winter drabness in the garden is a thing of the past. The plant banishes melancholy with bright red berries and heralds spring with creamy-white flowers. Let yourself be surprised how uncomplicated the cultivation is by hand.

Plant skimmies properly

September is planting time for Skimmia. If you plant the picturesque flowering and decorative fruit trees in the ground according to this procedure, the floral spectacle will not be long in coming. Before you go to work in the semi-shady location in nutrient-rich, fresh, moist soil, place the root balls that are still potted in soft water. This is how it goes on:

At a distance of 30-50 cm, dig small pits with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
Repot the soaked root ball and place in the center of the planting hole
Instead of planting with the excavated soil, preferably with rhododendron substrate up to the lower pair of leaves
Water the planting site and mulch with leaf or bark mulch

If a Skimmia japonica acts as a decorative plant in the pot, the work is similar. In addition, lay some pieces of pottery shards over the water drain in the floor so that they counteract harmful waterlogging as drainage.

care tips

In order to fully enjoy the blossoms and fruits of a Skimmia japonica, these care factors are important:

Water moderately with soft water after the substrate has dried
Fertilize every 2 weeks from April to August
If necessary, cut back and thin out a male plant after flowering
Do not trim female Skimmia and only trim them in early spring

In the bed, a light winter protection is recommended in the first two years. Cultivated in tubs, precautions should be taken against frosty temperatures every year. It is important to note that the evergreen plant continues to be watered during the cold season.
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Which location is suitable?

In order for the concentrated beauty of the Asian plant to develop, the location should be like this:

Sunny to semi-shady location without direct sunlight
Ideally in the sheltered lee of tall trees
Likes to be humid near bodies of water

The right planting distance

In small groups, Skimmia stage a picturesque appearance. Since the plant, as a dioecious species, cannot act as a solitaire anyway, the question of the correct planting distance for Skimmia japonica is of particular relevance. Arrange female and male specimens at a distance of 30 to 50 cm from each other, or 2 to 3 Skimmia per square meter.

What soil does the plant need?

Skimmia prefer a nutrient-rich, humus-rich and slightly moist soil. Since the plant tolerates little lime, it thrives wonderfully in bog beds or rhododendron soil. A Skimmia japonica feels extremely comfortable in the immediate vicinity of coniferous trees, as the soil here is always slightly acidic and low in lime.

When is flowering time?

Skimmia adorn the spring garden with white flowers from April to May. In the case of female Skimmia japonica, the flower acts as an overture to the furious fruit stand with bright red berries in autumn and appears rather unobtrusively. In contrast, the focus of a male plant is exclusively on the flowers. The splendor unfolds accordingly lavishly, refined with a beguiling scent lily of the valley.

Cut skimmies properly

Given the leisurely growth of 5 to 15 cm per year, pruning is rarely part of the care plan. Thorough thinning out immediately after flowering or in early spring is usually sufficient. If necessary, cut back a male flower Skimmia immediately after flowering. The withered flowers are not removed from female Skimmia japonica, as the desired fruit decoration develops from them.
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Pour Skimmie

The floral masterpiece of a Skimmia japonica is based not least on a well-balanced water balance. There should be neither drought stress nor waterlogging. Only water the plant when the soil surface has dried. This is more often the case in the tub than in the bed. To prevent excess lime from accumulating in the substrate, we recommend using soft rainwater or decalcified tap water.

Fertilize Skimmie properly

A balanced supply of nutrients is one of the mainstays in the care of Skimmia. Only a regular supply of energy enables the ornamental tree to produce an exuberant abundance of flowers and lush fruit decorations. Fertilize So you can fertilize the plant every 14 days from March to August with compost in the bed and liquid fertilizer in the pot.
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hibernate

Well-established Skimmia are fully hardy. A light winter protection only makes sense in the first two years in the bed and in the bucket every year. How to do it right:

From the beginning of September, water less and no longer fertilize
Before the first frost, pile up the root disc with leaves, brushwood or bark mulch
Place pots on wood and wrap with foil
Ideally bright and cool winters do not exceed 15 degrees Celsius

As an evergreen plant, Skimmia continue to evaporate water throughout the winter. Therefore, water on dry days on mild days.

Skimmie in pot

As a decorative plant in pots, Skimmia japonica takes gardeners' hearts by storm. We have summarized the relevant cultivation factors for you so that you can enjoy the flowers and berries for a long time:

Protect from the blazing sun on the balcony and windowsill
Fertilize every 2 weeks from March/April to August
Keep the substrate constantly moist with soft water
Do not trim female Skimmia, as the flowers will produce fruit

As a houseplant, Skimmia are only suitable to a limited extent during the winter. Temperatures must not exceed 15 degrees Celsius. In addition, dry heating air has a lasting effect on the floral beauty.

Is Skimmie Poisonous?

As a rue family, Skimmia contain alkaloids in all parts and are declared as a slightly poisonous plant. This circumstance implies that the red berries are only used for decoration in autumn. Intentional or unintentional consumption of the toxic fruit causes significant symptoms of poisoning. Consequently, Skimmia japonica are not suitable for the family garden in which little explorers are on an expedition and put everything in their mouths.

Yellow leaves

The visual expressiveness of a Skimmia japonica is severely impaired when the shiny green leaves turn yellow. Moreover, this shortcoming points to problems in cultivation. The most common causes at a glance:

Too sunny location: Settle Skimmia in a partially shaded spot
Nutrient deficiency: Fertilize the plant every 2 weeks from March to September
Waterlogging: only water Skimmia japonica when the substrate has dried

In addition, the plant is sensitive to calcareous substrate and irrigation water. Use rhododendron or bog soil and water mostly with collected rainwater or stagnant tap water.
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Beautiful varieties

The following selection of beautiful varieties presents both female and male varieties. Only female Skimmia are able to decorate the winter garden with the bright red infructescence, dubbed fruit Skimmia in the trade. However, if you have an enchanting spring blossom in mind with a lovely scent of lily of the valley, then this should be it If you choose a male Skimmia japonica, the garden center will offer it as a flowering Skimmia identify.

Foremanii: Female Skimmia japonica with bright red fruits in autumn and winter; Growth height 60-100 cm
Rubella: The male plant impresses with red buds in autumn and white flowers in May; Growth height 70-90 cm
Veitchii: fruitskimmie with extra large, glossy green leaves and red berries in autumn; Growth height up to 150 cm
Fragant Cloud: Enchanting floral Skimmia with an intoxicating fragrance in April and May; Growth height 100-120 cm
Magic Marlot: Small male plant with white-pink flowers that do well in containers; Growth height 40-50 cm