Skimmia japonica Rubella

Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' is undoubtedly the most well-known and best male Skimmia from Japan. With a lovely compact and rounded habit, this bush stands out for its pink to red colouration found on all parts of its vegetation, from the petiole of the flowers to the floral buds, to the edges of the shiny leaves that turn red in the cold. Its spring flowering in panicles of white tinged with pink, fragrant, is one of the major assets of this attractive variety all year round. Skimmia japonica are easy to grow in shade or semi-shade, in a soil if possible humiferous, moist, devoid of limestone, just like rhododendrons and camellias with which it forms beautiful associations in open ground or in containers. 

Belonging to the Rutaceae family like citrus trees, Skimmia japonica is originally an Asian plant present in Southeast Asia. 'Rubella' is a horticultural variety consisting entirely of male individuals that do not bear fruit. The habit of 'Rubella' is bushy, nicely rounded, almost as wide as it is tall, and its growth is quite slow. At maturity, the bush will reach approximately 1.2 metres (4ft) in height by 1 metre (3ft 4in) in width. The floral buds form from autumn on the branches, they are pink-purple in colour, carried by petioles of the same tone and persist throughout the winter. The flowering itself, in April-May,  takes the form of panicles 3 to 8cm (1.2 - 3.1in) long. They are made up of a multitude of small star-shaped flowers, measuring a few millimetres, in white-pink colour. Their fragrance, which may evoke vanilla, is perceptible over several metres. The foliage, evergreen, is composed of leaves 5 to 10cm (2 - 3.9in) long, ovate in shape and tapering to a point. They are alternately arranged on the branches. Their colour is a dark green, finely edged with purple from spring to the end of summer. In autumn and winter, under the effect of cold, they take on a reddish-bronze hue. It is a thick foliage that is slightly aromatic when crushed and not edible. This bush is also very hardy, down to a minimum of -15°C (5 °F).

In cool and humid climates, the Japanese skimmia has its place in the understorey, along a north-facing facade, in a shrub bed, or in a shaded hedge. It does not appreciate limestone and/or dry soils, is wary of heat, but it can tolerate quite difficult conditions for vegetation, under bamboo or large trees, for example. It thrives in shade or semi-shade, in the company of camellias, rhododendrons, heathers, and hydrangeas. Plant cyclamen, Bergenias, and Eranthis at its feet. 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 for humans. 'Rubella' is particularly suitable for cultivation in pots or containers for the decoration of shaded terraces and balconies.