Skimmia japonica ssp. reevesiana

Reevesiana is a sought after subspecies of skimmia. It is a hermaphrodite plant that does not need a male pollinator to produce berries. These are vivid red and are follow tiny, white flowers in the autumn and winter. Evergreen leaves are elongated, elliptic, deep green and glossy. The plant grows slowly, making an attractive ground cover. Ideal for Japanese style gardens.

If you plant it well you needn’t look after it any longer except for occasional watering in dry spells. There are a few rules you have to obey if you want your skimmia look perfect: the soil has to be always moist but extremely well-drained, acidic (add peat) and light (add leaf mould), humus-rich. The best location is dappled shade or even deep shade (shady back of your house or under thick canopies of tall trees). When leaves turn pale or yellow the plant suffers from too much sun or water, or too little nutrients in the soil which should be acidic. Tolerant of atmospheric pollution. The plant is poisonous. Hardy to min. -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 28-12-2008