How do you care for a skimmia in a pot?

In a pot with drainage holes filled with ericaceous compost, in partial shade, keeping the compost slightly moist without overwatering.

What position does skimmia need?

Partial shade or bright shade; full sun turns its foliage yellow.

Is skimmia frost hardy?

Yes, it is hardy and spends the winter outdoors; just protect the pot in very cold weather.

When does skimmia flower?

Its colourful buds decorate from autumn to late winter, then open in spring into small fragrant flowers.

Why are my skimmia's leaves turning yellow?

Most often because of too much sun, water or soil that is too chalky, or overwatering.

What soil does skimmia need?

Ericaceous compost or a compost for acid-loving plants, light and free-draining.

Does skimmia produce berries?

'Rubella' and 'Finchy' are male plants: they don't produce berries, but bear decorative buds and highly fragrant flowers.

Is skimmia toxic to cats?

Skimmia is toxic if eaten; keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.

What can you combine skimmia with in pots?

With hellebores, leucothoe, evergreen grasses and spring bulbs.

Skimmia — the evergreen shrub with colourful buds all winter

Clusters of red or white buds from autumn to late winter, then fragrant flowers in spring: skimmia is the star of winter window boxes. Compact, evergreen and hardy, it thrives in a pot in partial shade, on a balcony or a terrace that gets little sun.

When most balcony plants take a break, skimmia steps into the spotlight: from autumn it is covered in tight clusters of red or white buds that stay decorative all winter, above glossy green evergreen foliage. In spring, these buds open into small star-shaped flowers with a delicate scent. Compact, hardy and happy in partial shade, it is the ideal shrub for winter pots and window boxes.

Skimmia varieties

Skimmia 'Rubella' (Skimmia japonica) is the best known: its burgundy-red buds, on reddish stems, light up window boxes from October to March before opening into highly fragrant pinkish-white flowers. Skimmia 'Finchy' offers creamy-green buds that whiten through the winter, for a bright, elegant touch. The Festival duo brings 'Rubella' and 'Finchy' together in one pot for an instant red and white contrast. These varieties are male plants: they produce no berries, but flower abundantly.

Growing skimmia in a pot

Skimmia likes acid soil: plant it in a pot with drainage holes filled with ericaceous compost, light and free-draining. Place it in partial or bright shade, away from scorching afternoon sun, which turns its foliage yellow. Keep the compost slightly moist without overwatering, and ideally use rainwater or soft water. An ericaceous fertiliser in spring is enough.

A hardy shrub for winter

Very cold tolerant, skimmia spends the winter outdoors without difficulty and is among our cold and frost hardy plants. In pots, simply protect the container in very cold weather. Its slow growth and naturally rounded shape mean it needs almost no pruning: just remove faded flowers after spring flowering.

Creating a winter window box

Skimmia is the centrepiece of winter displays. Pair it with hellebores, which flower at the same time, with the colourful foliage of leucothoe, which also loves ericaceous soil, and with evergreen grasses such as carex. Tuck a few flower bulbs between the plants to extend the show into spring.

Precautions

All parts of skimmia are toxic if eaten. Keep it out of reach of young children and pets that tend to chew plants.

Skimmia on the balcony

On a north- or east-facing balcony, skimmia brings colour where few plants flower in winter. With nandina and its reddening foliage, it creates a warm festive display, ideal for styling a balcony that stays alive all year round.