Skimmia: Winter Buds for Bouquets and the Garden

Skimmia is a compact evergreen shrub with dense clusters of buds that keep their colour — burgundy, pink or greenish — from autumn to spring. Florists love it because it looks fresh even in winter, when most greenery has lost its appeal, and it often appears in our winter and Christmas bouquets. Here is what skimmia is, how its varieties differ and how to care for it in a pot and in a vase.

What Is Skimmia

Japanese skimmia (Skimmia japonica) is an evergreen shrub of the rue family, native to mountain slopes in Japan and China. It grows slowly and in cultivation usually reaches 50–100 cm. The leathery dark-green leaves smell lightly spicy when crushed. In autumn, clusters of buds form at the tips of the shoots, stay closed all winter and open in spring into small fragrant white or pinkish flowers.

Most skimmias are dioecious: there are male and female plants. Male plants carry the showiest buds, while females, once pollinated, produce bright red berries that hang on until spring. The berries and leaves are not edible, so keep the plant away from children and pets.

Popular Skimmia Varieties

• Rubella — a male variety and the florists’ favourite: burgundy-red buds against leaves edged in red.
• Green and cream-budded varieties — subtle and elegant, great with white roses and eucalyptus.
• Female berrying forms — grown for the red berries that decorate the shrub in winter.
• Skimmia reevesiana — a related species that can set berries without a partner.

Skimmia in Bouquets

A sprig of skimmia is a ready-made accent: the dense head of buds adds texture and the glossy leaves replace greenery. It looks best in winter designs with roses, carnations, hypericum, fir and cones. Burgundy Rubella brings out reds and wine shades, green forms suit white and cream palettes. Skimmia stays fresh for a long time, so it is ideal for bouquets that need to last through the holidays. More fillers are in flowers and greenery for bouquets.

How to Make Skimmia Last in a Vase

• Cut the stems at an angle with a sharp knife and strip any leaves below the waterline.
• Use cool water and change it every 2–3 days.
• Keep the bouquet away from radiators: in a cool room the buds stay fresh much longer.

With this care, skimmia usually outlasts most flowers in the bouquet.

Growing Skimmia in Pots and Gardens

Skimmia needs part shade, moist acidic soil and protection from midday sun — the same conditions as a rhododendron. It tolerates frost to about −15 °C, so in most of Ukraine it is grown in a container moved to a cool, bright room for winter, or in a sheltered spot with winter cover. Water with soft water, never let the root ball dry out, and feed in spring with a fertiliser for acid-loving plants. Hard pruning is unnecessary — just remove dry branches after flowering.

FAQ

Is skimmia poisonous?

The berries and leaves are not edible and can be harmful, so keep the plant away from children and pets.

Why does my skimmia have no berries?

Only female plants berry, and only with a male nearby. Rubella is male, so it never berries.

Can I keep skimmia indoors?

In winter, only in a cool bright room (5–12 °C). In a warm, dry flat it quickly drops its buds.

How long does skimmia last in a bouquet?

Usually longer than most flowers, especially in a cool room with regular water changes.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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