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Key characteristics

Family: Rutaceae
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Width: 3 to 6 feet
Flower color: White, often fragrant
Foliage color: Glossy dark green, evergreen
Bloom time: Spring
Light: Prefers part shade to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; slow-growing and benefits from pruning to shape or control size
Growing zone: USDA zones 6 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts pollinators, including bees, due to its fragrant flowers

Shrubs

Skimmia japonica (Male)

Japanese Skimmia (Male)

Skimmia japonica (Male) is an evergreen shrub appreciated for its dense, rounded form and glossy, aromatic foliage. In early to mid-spring, it produces clusters of small, fragrant white flowers, often tinged with pink, adding a delicate charm to the garden. While male plants do not produce berries, they are essential pollinators for female Skimmia, enhancing the ornamental value of nearby berry-bearing specimens.

Native to woodland areas of Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, Skimmia japonica thrives in shaded or semi-shaded locations, making it a versatile choice for gardens with less sunlight. Its year-round foliage and seasonal blooms make it a popular option for mixed borders, foundation plantings, or container displays.

Light

Prefers part shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Shade Gardens
Borders
Containers
Woodland Gardens

Companion plants

Leucothoe · Yew · Viola · Astilbe · Hellebores · Ferns

Design tip

Include a male Skimmia within a grouping of female plants so its spring flowers can provide the pollen needed for berry production nearby. Its dense evergreen form blends easily into the planting, allowing the berry-bearing females to provide the more prominent autumn and winter display.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)