Skimmia Gardening Tips    
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Skimmia is a genus of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rutaceae, comprising four species. It is native to warm temperate regions of Asia. Skimmia is an easy to grow shrub that is ideal in gardens and borders, grown for its foliage, flowers and showy red berries. It is tolerant of both air pollution and drought. The best known species is Skimmia Japonica, native to Japan, Korea and China. It is a shrub that can grow to a height of 7 m. It is popularly cultivated as an ornamental plants in gardens and parks. This species when hybridized with Skimmia anquetilia becomes Skimmia x confusa which is suitable for bonsai. Skimmia japonica has dark green, glossy leaves that are clustered at the ends of the shoots. The leaves are simple, lanceolate, 6-21 cm long, and 2-5 cm broad, with a smooth margin. It bears dense panicles clusters of fragrant cream-yellow to white flowers, often flushed with pink and red, in spring. Each flowers is small, 6-15 mm in diameter, with 4-7 petals. On female plants, the flowers are followed by red berries, although both male and female plants must be present. Skimmia grows well in shade, in fertile, misture-retentive but well-drained soil. Propagation is by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer. Even though Skimmia is easy to grow, certain pests and diseases are known to attack the plants. They are aphids, Horse Chestnut Scale, Garden Leafhopper, and Southern Red Mite. Skimmia japonica Author: TeunSpaans (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0) Skimmia japonica Author: Wildfeuer (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic) Skimmia japonica Author: TeunSpaans (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0) Skimmia reevesiana Author: Kurt Stueber (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0) Skimmia reevesiana Author: Kurt Stueber (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0) Skimmia Author: Musical Linguist (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0) | ||||
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