Skimmia japonica is a dense, rounded, evergreen shrub that has 10cms long, glossy green, lanceolate leaves that are quite leathery in texture though fragrant.
They are however prized as a garden ornamental for their very attractive clusters of bright red berries that follow the fragrant, creamy white flowers in summer and stay around through to winter.
The combination of strong foliage and bright fruit berries is very ornamental - though they will only be produced if there are plants of both sexes in close proximity as only the female flowers will produce fruit.
This is a favourite of larger parks and gardens as it fill those shady areas very well providing good foliage and bright berry colour for a lot of the year.
They go well on banks and slopes, make a decent low hedge or screen whilst also contributing well to shrubberies and borders.
A few much more compact varieties have been bred including
- Skimmia japonica Kew Green
- Skimmia japonica Nymans
- Skimmia japonica Rubella
- Skimmia japonica Fragrans