Colours and shapes
If you like light colours, opt for Skimmia in the spring. At that time the berries are still green with hints of yellow. If you favour the darker shades then autumn’s warm, claret -coloured Skimmia is highly recommended. And unlike many other berry-bearing plants, birds and small garden mammals are not particularly fond of Skimmia’s berries. So they stay on the plant for a nice long time.
Symbolism
Sadly little is known about Skimmia’s symbolism. We know that it can tolerate cold well, does not give up easily and changes colour with the seasons. So as far as we’re concerned it’s a really resilient character with a fine sense of style.
Origin
The name was created in 1784 from 'Miyama shikimi’, the Japanese name for Skimmia. Skimmia is a member of the rue family (Rutaceae), which also includes citrus trees. The family resemblance is clear from the leaves: if you crush them, they release a citrus fragrance. In the wild Skimmia grows in the forests of China and other parts of Asia such as the Himalayas.
