How to Grow Skimmia

Skimmia japonica

Perennial

Skimmia is one of the best evergreen shrubs for shady positions in UK gardens, offering fragrant spring flowers and bright red winter berries. Most varieties need a male and female plant for berries, though S. japonica 'Reevesiana' is self-fertile. Plant in partial to full shade in moist, acidic soil — use ericaceous compost in containers. Feed with an ericaceous fertiliser in spring and mulch with composted bark. Skimmia rarely needs pruning and is fully hardy.

Yearly Lifecycle

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Spring Growth Flowering Growing

Care Essentials

Spring with an ericaceous fertiliser. Mulch with composted bark.

Watch For

Scale insects
Horse chestnut scale
Phytophthora

Companions

Camellia, Sarcococca, Hellebores, Ferns

Track your Skimmia care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks

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Care Requirements

☀️ Light

Partial to full shade, excellent shade shrub

Partial to full shade. One of the best shrubs for shady positions. Tolerates full sun if soil stays moist but may yellow in alkaline or dry conditions.

💧 Watering

Keep moist, rainwater in hard-water areas

Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Water in dry spells, especially container-grown plants. Use rainwater in hard-water areas.

🌱 Fertilizing

Ericaceous feed in spring, bark mulch

Feed in spring with an ericaceous fertiliser. Mulch with composted bark to maintain acidity and moisture.

✂️ Pruning

Rarely needed, light shaping after flowering

Rarely needs pruning. Light shaping after flowering in spring if required. Remove any dead or damaged wood.

Growing Tips

Male needed for berries

Plant a male alongside female plants for berries — or choose the self-fertile 'Reevesiana' if space is limited.

Ericaceous feed

Feed with an ericaceous fertiliser in spring and mulch with composted bark to maintain soil acidity.

Rainwater in hard-water areas

Use rainwater in hard-water areas to avoid raising soil pH, which causes yellowing leaves.

Moist but not waterlogged

Ensure excellent drainage — skimmia needs moisture but will die from phytophthora root rot in waterlogged soil.

Pests & Diseases

Pest Horse Chestnut Scale

Identification: Brown oval scales on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on foliage

Organic treatment:

Scrub off scales with a soft brush and soapy water in winter
Encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps

Chemical treatment:

Plant oil-based winter wash on dormant stems

Pest Scale Insects

Identification: Small waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; sticky deposits on lower leaves; black sooty mould

Organic treatment:

Wipe off with a damp cloth or soft brush
Biological control with Metaphycus helvolus under glass

Chemical treatment:

Organic fatty acid spray in growing season

Pest Aphids

Identification: Clusters of green or black insects on young shoot tips and flower buds

Organic treatment:

Squash by hand or blast off with water
Encourage ladybirds and hoverflies

Chemical treatment:

Fatty acid spray for heavy infestations

Disease Phytophthora Root Rot Phytophthora spp.

Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, poor growth, wilting despite moist soil, dark discolouration at stem base

Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plants. Do not replant skimmia in the same spot.

Prevention: Ensure excellent drainage. Avoid waterlogged sites. Use ericaceous compost in containers with good drainage.

Disease Leaf Spot Various fungal species

Symptoms: Brown or black spots on leaves, sometimes with yellow halos; affected leaves may drop prematurely

Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Improve air circulation.

Prevention: Avoid overhead watering. Ensure good spacing. Clear fallen debris.

Log Skimmia in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year

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