Scientific name: Skimmia japonica

Common name:  Japanese skimmia

Family name: Rutaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:

USDA hardiness zone: 7

Mature height and spread: 1-1.5m tall and wide

Form: spreading, round

Water use: high

Soil requirements: acidic, well-drained

Leaf arrangement: simple. Alternate.

Fall colour: none

Flower/cone/fruit description: red drupe. Panicle flowers; showy and white. Male flowers; conical at tip. Female flowers more rounded and compact.

Limitations: Variable species (different leaf sizes). Nice form in sun but more likely to get mite infestations (leafs look stippled); therefore location very important (shade, cool, with moisture)

Suitable uses: ground cover, hedge, border. Male flowers smell great (lemon)

Quick ID: evergreen. Shrub. Simple. Alternate. Obovate/elliptic leaves. Spicy smell. Red drupe; persistent. Japan. Scented leaves (lemon) on male. Requires cross-pollination (diescious)