Is skimmia fast growing?
Skimmias are one of the best low-maintenance, slow-growing, hardy evergreen shrubs for shadier borders.
Do Skimmias like sun or shade?
Skimmias prefer a position in light shade, but they will tolerate deeper shade or sunny spots. Only some, such as Skimia ‘Kew Green’, will grow well in full sun. Plant them in any soil as long as it’s not too wet or very dry.
How big will a skimmia grow?
3-4ft in
Skimmias are evergreen shrubs from the Himalayas and China which have attractive leaves, flowers and fruit. Most grow to 3-4ft in height and have scented flowers in the spring followed by conspicuous red or white fruits.
Where should I plant skimmia?
Skimmias do best in partial shade although they will tolerate full shade. Apart from in cooler areas of the country or where the soil remains moist all summer, avoid growing skimmias in full sun which can make the leaves pale and the whole plant look sickly.
When should you plant skimmia?
autumn
You can plant skimmias all year round in frost-free weather, however, autumn is best to ensure healthy growth and root development in the moist soil. Skimmia shrubs love a humus and nutrient rich, slightly acidic soil (pH of between 4.8 and 5.2).
Can skimmia grow in full shade?
Japanese skimmia is native to Japan, Kuril Island, Nansei-Shoto, Primorye, Sakhalin, and Taiwan. Plant this shrub in rich, acidic, well-drained soils in part to full shade. The leaves will scorch in the full sun.
What can I plant next to skimmia?
Grow next to a compact variegated holly such as Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’, or extend the season of scent by partnering it with sweet box, Sarcococca confusa, which flowers from December to March.
Can skimmia be hard pruned?
Pruning Skimmia
Prune only when the plants become straggly. Remove any dead or damaged wood. Skimmia can be cut back hard in spring, if they become to large and need regeneration.
Why are the leaves on my skimmia turning yellow and dropping?
Why are my skimmia leaves yellow? When skimmia leaves turn yellow, check that the shrub is not getting too much sunlight or that the soil pH is not too alkaline, which would block the iron uptake. Poor soil and lack of nutrients can also cause the leaves to turn yellow, wither, and fall.
How do you prune leggy skimmia?
Plants rarely need any pruning but if needed it should be carried out in spring after flowering has finished. Remove unwanted stems cutting back well inside the leaf canopy to hide the cut ends. Pruning will prevent female varieties from producing berries the following winter.
How do you revive a skimmia?
Feed the skimmia with a fertilizer specific to acidic plants. A custom fertilizer with a label like 10-5-4 (find it here) will not change the soil pH. Apply it once a year in the spring. If the soil is poor, you can apply the fertilizer again in the summer.
What do you feed skimmia with?
Feed in spring with a balanced granular plant food. Those suitable for Camellias and Rhododendrons are a good choice in alkaline soils. Mulch around plants in spring with a 5-7.5cm (2-3in) thick layer of organic matter such as compost, composted bark or well-rotted manure.
Can you cut skimmia back hard?
Skimmia can be cut back hard in spring, if they become to large and need regeneration.
Why are the leaves on my skimmia turning yellow?
Should skimmia be pruned?