Skimmia japonica Fragrant Cloud

Skimmia japonica 'Fragrant Cloud' is a Japanese Skimmia with deliciously scented spring flowering. With a pretty compact and bushy dome habit, this shrub has evergreen, elongated, dark green leaves. Its flowering in April-May consists of paniculate clusters of intensely fragrant creamy-white flowers. Skimmia japonica is easily grown in shade or partial shade, in a preferably humiferous, moist, lime-free soil, just like rhododendrons and camellias with which it forms beautiful associations in the ground or in containers.

Belonging to the Rutaceae family like citrus trees, Skimmia japonica is originally an Asian plant found in Southeast Asia. 'Fragrant Cloud', sometimes known as S. japonica 'Fragrans', is an excellent horticultural variety, awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit. It consists entirely of male individuals that do not bear fruit. Its habit is bushy, with a compact dome shape, and its growth is quite slow. At maturity, the shrub will reach approximately 1m (3ft 4in) in all directions. Floral buds begin to form in autumn on the branches, they are pink-purple in colour and persist throughout the winter. The flowering, in April-May, appears as panicles measuring 3 to 8cm (1.2 - 3.1in) long. They are made up of numerous small star-shaped flowers in creamy-white to pinkish colours, measuring a few millimetres. Their powerful fragrance, reminiscent of vanilla and lily of the valley, can be detected from several metres away. The evergreen foliage consists of ovate, pointed leaves measuring 5 to 10cm (2 - 3.9in) 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 shrub is also very hardy, down to -15°C (5 °F) at least.

In cool and humid climate, Japanese Skimmia thrives in the understorey, along a north-facing wall, in a shrub bed, or in a shaded hedge. It does not tolerate calcareous and/or dry soils, dislikes heat, but can withstand fairly challenging conditions for vegetation, such as under bamboo or large trees. It enjoys shade or partial shade, in the company of Camellias, Rhododendrons, Heathers, and Hydrangeas. Plant Cyclamen, Bergenia, and Eranthis at its base. This male variety will pollinate up to 5 or 6 female Skimmia plants such as 'Olympic Flame' or 'Nymans', which will produce small, highly decorative but non-edible bright red drupes. 'Fragrant Cloud' is particularly suitable for container cultivation, to perfume shaded terraces and balconies with its wonderful fragrance in spring, while remaining decorative throughout the year.