Skimmia japonica 'Rubella'
Family - Rutaceae
Category - Shrub
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Hardiness - H5
Height - up to 1.5m
Width - up to 1.5m
Location - The Spring Garden
Description: A small, Evergreen Shrub with an upright, bushy habit. Dark green leaves are obovate to Elliptic in shape and have a smooth, leathery texture. Skimmia japonica is Dioecious (male and female flowers are produced on separate plants), this cultivar only produces male flowers. Dense pyramidal panicles of neat, round, red buds are present on the plant and remain attractive through the autumn and winter. In early spring the buds open to creamy white, star-shaped flowers with prominent yellow stamens. The panicles are produced prolifically and held at the tips of the branches. The Blooms have a sweet fragrance and are attractive to pollinating insects.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Flower:
Dioecious (male and female flowers are produced on separate plants). This cultivar produces male flowers only. Round, dark red buds are present and remain attractive on the plant through autumn and winter. The buds open to white, star-shaped flowers with prominent yellow anthers in March and April. The blooms are held in dense pyramidal panicles at the tips of the branches and have a sweet fragrance.
Flower colour: Red, white
Flower shape: Star-shaped flowers in panicles
Flowering time: March, April
Foliage:
Dark green leaves are obovate to Elliptic in shape and have a smooth, leathery texture. The leaves tend to be clustered towards the tips of the branches and are Alternately arranged.
Foliage Senescence: Evergreen
Foliage Shape: Obovate to elliptic
Propagation:
Cuttings.
Cultivation:
Best in partial shade to shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.