Female Skimmia

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Partial Sun

(3 - 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

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.