Practical
Plants

Skimmia japonica

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Skimmia genus in the family Rutaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rutaceae
Genus
Skimmia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
2 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A poisonous alkaloid called 'skimmianin' is found in all parts of the plant[9].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The poisonous stems are carminative, restorative and tonic[3][10].

Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Restorative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 1 metre apart each way[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat
Woods, sometimes as an epiphyte on old Cryptomeria spp trees, in C. and S. Japan[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - can be sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[K]. It also succeeds when sown in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady position in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If there is sufficient seed then it can be sown can be in an outdoor seedbed in early spring[7]. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for a couple of years before planting them out in late autumn or early spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a cold frame[2]. Cuttings of nearly mature side shoots, 7 - 10cm with a heel, September in a cold frame. Slow to root, they should be left for 18 months before moving to their permanent positions. Good percentage[13]. Layering in autumn. Takes 18 months. Good to high percentage[13].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a well-drained open loam or in a peaty soil[2][7] preferring a rich slightly acid soil[5]. Thrives in moderately shady positions[2][7] but also succeeds in full sun where the leaves may be rather yellow but the plant will flower and fruit better[7]. Plants are very tolerant of atmospheric pollution[5], being unharmed by deposits of soot or a sulphur-laden atmosphere[11]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[5]. Often cultivated in the ornamental garden, there are many named varieties. The flowers have a sweet perfume[11]. Those of male forms are more aromatic than females[1], whilst the variety 'Fragrans' has a stronger scent like lily of the valley[11]. The bruised leaves are pleasantly aromatic[11]. The fruit is seldom eaten by birds, usually hanging on the plant until it flowers the following year[4]. A polymorphic species, it is usually dioecious but some forms are hermaphrodite, especially in ssp. reevesiana. (Fortune.)N.P.Taylor.&Airey Shaw[7]. This sub-species is intolerant of chalky soils[4] and is also much taller than the type. Another report says that it is smaller and weaker-growing than the type species[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  4. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  9. Coventry. B. O. Wild Flowers of Kashmir Raithby, Lawrence and Co. 1923-00-00

    ↩

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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