Skimmia japonica Festival, duo 'Rubella' and 'Finchy' (Red and white skimmia) — H30 cm | Pot Ø15 cm
- Regular price
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€34,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€34,95
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Frequently asked questions
When does skimmia flower? Skimmia forms its buds in autumn, keeps them decorative throughout winter, and opens them into fragrant white flowers in March-April.
How do you repot a duo of skimmias? Repot the duo the following spring in a wider pot or a planter filled with ericaceous soil, keeping the two root balls together.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
❤️🤍 Duo of red and white buds all winter • 🌸 Fragrant flowers in spring • 🌿 Dark green evergreen foliage • 🌥️ Partial shade or shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -15 °C • 🪴 Compact size
Skimmia japonica Festival brings together two complementary skimmias in the same pot: 'Rubella' with red buds and 'Finchy' with creamy white buds. A species native to Japan, skimmia is one of the cold-hardy plants that remain decorative all winter.
From autumn onwards, the two plants become covered in clusters of buds that remain closed until spring: red and white mingle above dark green, glossy foliage. In March-April, the buds open into small white flowers with a gentle fragrance, much visited by bees. Delivered in a compact size of around 30 cm, it fits on a windowsill as well as in a planter.
Which winter shrub should you choose for shade?
Six evergreen plants from the catalog that remain decorative in winter, in partial shade or shade:
- Skimmia Festival (this plant) — duo of red and white buds in the same pot. The most compact, and the only two-tone variety.
- Skimmia 'Rubella' — large clusters of vivid red buds, in a Ø19 cm pot. The most colorful choice for the festive season.
- Skimmia 'Finchy' — clusters of creamy white buds, in a Ø19 cm pot. The brightest choice for a dark corner.
- 'Christmas Carol' Christmas rose — large white flowers with yellow centers, from October to March. The most spectacular bloom in the middle of winter.
- Leucothoe 'Little Flames' — green leaves with flame-red tips in winter. The best choice for a small shade hedge.
- Laurustinus — pinkish-white flowers from November to March. The tallest, for screening an overlooked view.
Skimmias and leucothoes require acidic soil; the Christmas rose and laurustinus grow in ordinary soil.
Exposure & placement
It loves soft light and cool conditions: it is one of the few colorful winter plants that thrive on a north-facing balcony. Direct afternoon sun causes its leaves to turn yellow and burn.
- Exposure: partial shade or shade, morning sun only.
- Location: north- or east-facing windowsill, entrance, small shaded balcony, railing planter.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -15 °C — it stays outdoors in winter.
- Soil type: ericaceous soil or potting mix for acid-loving plants, moist and well-draining. It does not tolerate lime.
Cold intensifies the red of 'Rubella' buds: the contrast with white is strongest in December and January.
Watering & care
In a small pot, the root ball dries out faster: testing the substrate with your finger indicates the right time to water, and going away for a few days in summer needs planning ahead.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate moist, without stagnant water in the saucer. Reduce in winter, without letting the root ball dry out.
- Water: preferably rainwater, or low-lime water.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous plants, in spring after flowering.
- Pruning: rarely necessary — after flowering, simply cut off the faded clusters.
- Repotting: the following spring, in a wider pot or planter, using ericaceous soil.
A pine bark mulch on the pot keeps the roots cool and slightly acidifies the substrate.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its two-tone color combination livens up a winter planter and pairs with all plants that share the same balcony exposure, in partial shade or shade.
- For a silvery contrast, plant a Hellebore 'Silver Dollar' next to it — its silvery-gray foliage brightens the dark green of the skimmias.
- To dress up the edge of the planter, add a Carex 'Ice Dance' — its fine cream-edged leaves echo the white buds.
- To intensify the red, pair it with Leucothoe 'Burning Love' — its purple foliage extends the red buds of 'Rubella'.
- To enhance the pot, choose the anthracite Capi Nature Skin pot — its dark tone makes both the red and white stand out.
On a festive table or doorstep, a pair of pots on either side of the door is enough to create a living Christmas display.
Verdeia tips
- Give it as a holiday gift: compact and already in bud on delivery, it can be placed on a windowsill and is among the easiest ways to give a plant in winter.
- Give them room in spring: the two skimmias grow slowly, but appreciate a wider pot after flowering, filled with ericaceous soil and a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom.
- Leave it outside in winter: a heated room will cause it to lose its buds within a few days. Like all cold-hardy plants, it only needs a fleece wrapped around the pot in severe frost.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' and Skimmia japonica 'Finchy'
- Common name: Japanese skimmia
- Family: Rutaceae
- Origin: species native to Japan
- Dimensions on delivery: H30 cm | Pot Ø15 cm
- Composition: two plants together in the same pot — the distribution of red and white buds may vary depending on seasonal availability
- Growth habit: bushy and dense, slow-growing
- Mature height: 60 cm to 1 m
- Flowering: red and creamy white buds from October to March, fragrant white flowers in March-April
- Exposure: partial shade or shade
- Watering: regular
- Soil type: ericaceous soil, lime-free
- Hardiness: down to -15 °C
- Foliage: evergreen, dark green and glossy
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: toxic if ingested by animals and children
- Decorative style: Japanese-inspired / Bohemian / Shade balcony
Each plant is unique: the proportion of red and white buds and their stage of opening naturally vary depending on the season and delivery date.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.