Skimmia japonica Veitchii

The Skimmia japonica 'Veitchii' is a variety of Japanese skimmia that remains decorative for most of the year: this small, sturdy bush offers beautiful evergreen foliage, a white and fragrant spring flowering, followed by striking red fruits that remain throughout the winter until March. With its elegant laurel-like appearance, it thrives in partially shaded areas of the garden or a large pot on the terrace. This plant has the exact cultivation requirements as camellias and rhododendrons, with which it pairs perfectly. 

The Skimmia japonica 'Veitchii' is a female cultivar, which will bear fruit in the presence of a male cultivar such as 'Rubella'. Belonging to the Rutaceae family, like citrus trees, Skimmia japonica is originally an Asian plant found in Southeast Asia. 'Veitchii' has a bushy habit, beautifully rounded, compact, almost as wide as tall, and its growth is relatively slow. At maturity, the bush will reach approximately 1.50 m (5ft) in all directions. Floral buds form in autumn on the branches; they are pink-purple, carried by petioles of the same shade that remain throughout the winter.

In April-May, flowering appears in panicles 3 to 8 cm (1 to 3in) long. They consist of many tiny white star-shaped flowers measuring a few millimetres. Their fragrance, reminiscent of vanilla, can be detected several metres away. After pollination, small berries form and turn bright red in October, gathered in clusters. The evergreen foliage in winter is composed of oval-shaped, pointed leaves measuring 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) long. They are arranged alternately on the branches and have a shiny dark green colour. The foliage is slightly aromatic when crushed and not edible. This bush is also very hardy, at a minimum of -15°C. 

In cool and humid climates, the Skimmia japonica Veitchii is in the undergrowth, along a north-facing facade, shrub bed, or shaded hedge. It does not appreciate chalky and/or dry soils and is sensitive to heat, but it can tolerate somewhat difficult conditions for vegetation, such as under bamboo or large trees. It thrives in shade or partial shade alongside camellias, rhododendrons, heathers, and hydrangeas. Plant cyclamen, bergenia, and eranthis at its base, for example. 'Veitchii' is suitable for cultivation in pots or containers for decorating shaded patios and balconies. It blends well in contemporary or Japanese-inspired settings.