Skimmia japonica 'Finchy' (white skimmia) — H60 cm | Pot Ø19 cm
- Regular price
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€50,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€50,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put a skimmia on a north-facing balcony? Yes, the skimmia prefers partial shade or shade and is one of the few flowering plants that thrive on a north-facing balcony.
Does the skimmia need ericaceous soil? Yes, the skimmia does not tolerate lime and should be planted in a pot with ericaceous soil, preferably watered with rainwater.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌸 Decorative buds all winter • 🤍 Fragrant white flowers in spring • 🌿 Dark green evergreen foliage • 🌥️ Partial shade or shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -15 °C • 🐝 Bee-friendly
Skimmia japonica 'Finchy' is a small evergreen shrub that decorates the terrace from October to April. Species native to Japan, where it grows in woodland, it is one of the plants for a shady balcony that remain beautiful in the middle of winter.
From autumn onwards, it becomes covered with clusters of creamy white buds, tightly packed above dark green, glossy foliage. These buds remain closed and decorative all winter, then open in spring into small white star-shaped flowers with a gentle fragrance, much visited by bees. Its slow growth keeps it dense, reaching around 60 cm to 1 m at maturity.
Which winter shrub should you choose for shade?
Six evergreen plants from the catalogue that remain decorative in winter, in partial shade or shade:
- Skimmia 'Finchy' (this plant) — creamy white buds all winter, fragrant flowers in spring. The brightest choice for a dark corner.
- Skimmia 'Rubella' — large clusters of bright red buds, in a Ø19 cm pot. The most colourful for the festive season.
- Skimmia Festival — a duo of red and white buds in the same Ø15 cm pot. The most compact, and the only bicolour variety.
- Christmas rose 'Christmas Carol' — large white flowers with yellow centres, from October to March. The most spectacular flowering in the middle of winter.
- Leucothoe 'Little Flames' — green leaves with flame-red tips in winter. The most suitable for a small shade hedge.
- Tinus laurel — pinkish white flowers from November to March. The tallest, for screening an overlooked view.
Skimmias and leucothoes require acidic soil; the Christmas rose and tinus laurel grow in ordinary soil.
Exposure & placement
It likes soft light and cool conditions: it is one of the few flowering 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 balcony, entrance, shaded courtyard, at the base of a tree.
- 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-drained. It does not tolerate lime.
Against a north-facing wall, its buds stay closed longer and provide decoration until April.
Watering & care
Its shallow roots dislike both drying out and waterlogging: testing the growing medium with your finger indicates the right time to water, and going away for a few days in summer requires advance preparation.
- Watering: regular — keep the growing medium moist, without stagnant water in the saucer. Reduce in winter, without letting the root ball dry out.
- Water: preferably rainwater, or low-limescale water.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous plants, in spring after flowering.
- Pruning: rarely necessary — after flowering, cut off only the faded flower clusters.
- Repotting: every two or three years in spring, in ericaceous soil.
A pine bark mulch on the pot helps keep the roots cool and slightly acidifies the growing medium.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its light-colored buds brighten dark corners and complement the other plants on a north-facing balcony, with the same light and water requirements.
- For a contrasting winter planter, pair it with Leucothoe 'Burning Love' — its purple foliage sets off the creamy white buds.
- To extend the flowering period, plant a Lenten Rose 'Double Ellen Red' at its base — its double purple flowers open in late winter, alongside the skimmia's first flowers.
- To dress up the edge of the pot, add a Carex 'Ice Dance' - its cream-colored edge echoes the color of the buds.
- To enhance the pot, choose the anthracite Capi Nature Skin pot - its dark tone makes the light clusters stand out.
Grouped in threes in a large planter, it creates a white and green display that lasts all winter.
Verdeia tips
- Give it as a gift for the holidays: already covered in buds on delivery, it decorates your home from Christmas and flowers again every spring, making it one of the loveliest ways to give a plant as a winter gift.
- Watch the color of the leaves: yellowing leaves most often indicate too much sun or water that is too high in lime. Move it closer to the shade and water it with rainwater.
- Do not cut the buds in autumn: they are the following spring's flowers. Prune only after flowering, when the clusters have faded.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Skimmia japonica 'Finchy'
- Common name: Japanese skimmia
- Family: Rutaceae
- Origin: species native to Japan
- Size at delivery: H60 cm | Pot Ø19 cm
- Growth habit: bushy and dense, slow-growing
- Mature height: 60 cm to 1 m
- Flowering: 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 to animals and children if ingested
- Decorative style: Japanese-inspired / Bohemian / Shade balcony
Each plant is unique: the number of clusters 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?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
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 to 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.