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Skimmia reevesiana
Reeves Skimmia
Plant Type:
BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBSSkimmia reevesiana (ex: Jonathan Lehrer, Environmentals) - Reeves Skimmia is a lower growing species with bisexual flowers... that means that this species is not dioecious, carrying both male and female flowers on the same plant. So, one plant will produce fruit. White flowers give way to 1/3 inch oval fruits in a deep crimson color. It must be planted in a fertile organic moisture-retentive soil on the acid side of the Ph spectrum. And to further the confusion this plant is also listed as S. japonica subsp. reevesiana which would make it a hermaphroditic form of the species... Woody Allen might say, "Twice as many dates"! It is a smaller, slower growing than S. japonica. We do consider it as a separate species as it is smaller, the fruit is a different shade of red, berres are a slightly different shape - color and shape are subtle but different from S. japonica and it's self-fertile which doesn't entirely square with the expectations of S. japonica. But then again it seems there are exceptions to every box in which we attempt to group cousins. Spring planting advised in the north. Cutting grown.
Characteristics and Attributes for Skimmia reevesiana
Season of Interest (Flowering)
- Spring
Season of Interest (Foliage)
- Four Seasons
Autumn Interest
- Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
- Showy Buds
Nature Attraction
- Deer Resistant
Light
- Dappled Shade
- Shade
Attributes
- Edging
- Evergreen
- Ground Cover
- Massing
- Foundation
- Specimen
- Woodland
Growth Rate in the Garden
- Medium
Soil
- Fertile
- Organic
- Moist
- Acid
Origins
- China
Propagated By
- Cutting Grown
Genus Overview: Skimmia
Common Name: Japanese Skimmia
These broadleaf evergreens with simple, alternate leaves cast a medium to medium dark green color. They slowly sucker and in time will form ground covering colonies that are simply beautiful. Clustered showy buds are red to maroon; inflorescences are rounded domes. Though flowers are small, the gestalt of the entire collection of tightly packed florets on the individual flowering structures is showy. Flowers are usually white, larger and a bit more fragrant on males.
Skimmia is dioecious; as with hollies males and females must be present for fruit production (except for S. reevesiana whose flowers are bisexual.) Females form beautiful semi-glossy red fruit which ripens in autumn persisting until the following spring. Each fruit is approximately 1/3 inch diameter. There is also a striking white berrying form, 'Wakehurst White'. Please note that the fruit is poisonous.
USDA climate zone 7 is the northern end of their cold hardiness range. We in northeastern Connecticut are slightly north of Skimmia's Mason-Dixon line. However, I have a customer in Voluntown - not far from us in Brooklyn - who claims she's getting them through just fine in a sheltered spot. However, she may be growing Skimmia reevesiana which is said to harbor greater hardiness than S. japonica.
Culture is easy. All are content in dappled or open shade, an east exposure with morning sun is acceptable. Organic, fertile soils on the acid side of the Ph scale which retain moisture between rains are required for best performance. And I would venture to say that at the northern end of their range protection from searing winter winds is cautioned - this is a general rule of thumb for all broadleaf evergreens. All the following are cutting grown.
Some of our offering we believe to be honest to goodness named cultivars. But any with the least bit of uncertainty will be discussed so that you will be informed. Beyond our selection it is unfortunate that Skimmia identification in the larger botanic world is an entangled mess.