Do you think it’s a shame to say goodbye to the beautiful flowers on your balcony after the summer? Then just continue in the winter! The flower boxes, pots and dishes should not disappear into the storage room. If you choose the right plants, you can look out from your window on a green and bright balcony, even when it is cold outside. So winter does not have to be desolate at all. The Skimmia japonica provides cheerful colors and sweet scents on your balcony or terrace.
- Description of the Skimmia japonica
- Skimmia japonica Obession
- Skimmia japonica Reevesiana
- Care of the Skimmia japonica
Description of the Skimmia japonica
The Skimmia japonica is a hardy, evergreen plant of the plant genus Skimmia that to the family Rutaceae or Rue family belongs. The Skimmia comes from East Asia and has different species, varying in height and flower color. The name Skimmia is the Latinization of Shikimi, the Japanese folk name for this plant. It is originally a forest plant. That is why it thrives best in a shady spot.
The leaves of Skimmia japonica are oval, dark green and leathery. The flowers are white and bloom in clusters from March to May. They give off a sweet scent. The red berries appear in the fall and last all winter long. Because this plant grows slowly and does not get higher than 80 cm to 100 cm, it is very suitable for a balcony or terrace.
The Skimmia japonica is a dioecious plant. That means that there are male and female copies of it. Male plants are certainly attractive because of their white flower clusters, but they do not bear fruit. Only the female plants do that. They do need the pollination of a male plant for this. To achieve those beautiful berries, you need several male plants for one female plant.
Still, there are a few exceptions to this rule. There are so-called ‘hermaphrodite’ or monoecious species that develop both male and female flowers and pollinate themselves. This allows them to bear fruit all by themselves. Two varieties with both berries and flowers and therefore ideal to brighten up your balcony in winter are the Skimmia japonica obsession and the Skimmia japonica Reevesiana.
Skimmia japonica Obession
The Skimmia japonica obsession is an evergreen shrub and very popular because of its beautiful red berries and reddish-brown flower buds that are on the top of the leaves and remain all winter. A popular plant during the Christmas season! When the flower buds open in the spring, small, white, plume-shaped flowers emerge that give off a scent of Mayflower. This shrub is ideal for small gardens or balconies and terraces. It grows slowly and becomes 80 cm to 100 cm high.
Skimmia japonica Reevesiana
The Skimmia japonica Reevesiana owes its name to the British John Reeves who worked in China for a long time as a tea inspector in the 19th century. He was very interested in the Chinese plant world and introduced to the West a number of special plants that he had come to know in China.
The Skimmia japonica Reevesiana is an evergreen shrub and attractive in all seasons. In autumn it bears dark red flower buds and beautiful crimson berries that linger all winter long. The red color of the berries contrasts beautifully with the dark green color of the lanceolate leaves. At the beginning of spring, the flower buds open and small white flowers appear that give off a sweet scent.
It is a very versatile plant: it thrives in the garden, alone or in groups, and in borders. Its low height of up to 80 cm makes it ideal for a terrace or balcony. This plant also works very well as an indoor decoration during the Christmas season. It will survive a few weeks indoors.
Care of the Skimmia japonica
- Because the Skimmia is originally a forest plant, it is best to place it in a spot in the shade or partial shade, with sun only in the morning or only in the afternoon. However, do not put it in full sun all day, because then the leaf edges will turn white.
- The Skimmia is an acid-loving plant and thrives in slightly acidic, humus-rich soil. Therefore, sprinkle plenty of peat around the roots.
- Water the plant regularly so that the potting soil remains moist, but provide a pot with holes in the bottom so that excess water can drain. The Skimmia does not like wet feet.
- If you give fertilizer pellets in the spring, the plant will flower profusely.
- Pruning is not really necessary because the Skimmia is a slow grower. In April or May, after flowering, you can cut out the dead flowers. You can also prune old branches to maintain the compact shape of the plant.