Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Female Skimmia, Skimmia japonica, is a fantastic, compact, evergreen shrub with aromatic, shiny, dark-green foliage. It features fragrant, blush-colored flowers that smell sweet like honey. Skimmias are dioecious (separate male and female plants), so plant a male close to a female to produce berries in the winter. Skimmia is deer resistant and maintains its compact form without maintenance shaping. Female Skimmia flowers in April and produces fruits in the summer that turn bright red in early winter and persist through late winter. Plant Female Skimmia near walkways, patios, and decks to enjoy the honey fragrance. Both male and female Skimmias are fragrant.
Between the flowers, evergreen foliage, and berries, Female Skimmia adds visual interest to the garden in every season. It grows in USDA Hardiness zones 7-9, and reaches 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity.
Female Skimmia Care
Find a location that is protected from harsh, drying winds that can burn the evergreen leaves. Female Skimmia is happiest in partial shade or dappled sunlight, ideally on a woodland edge. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil. You can apply an acidic-based fertilizer in early spring, and mulch with a light layer of natural wood chips or shredded leaf mulch to retain moisture.
Female Skimmia are carefree, low-maintenance shrubs that can tolerate many growing conditions once established. For the female plants to produce berries, a male plant must be nearby for a pollination partner.
Female Skimmia Spacing
Plant in groupings for a lush, evergreen effect in beds and borders or as a single specimen. When planting in groups, space plants approximately 3-4 feet apart on center to allow proper air circulation.
Female Skimmia Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 7 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Part Sun (3-6 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-4 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink
- Flower Description
- Pink
- Bloom Time
- Early to Mid-Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green, Blue
- Foliage Description
- Dark Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Female Skimmia
- Botanical Name
- Skimmia japonica - Female
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!