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Skimmia japonica

Japanese Skimmia

Family RutaceaeGenus Skimmia

A broad cluster of small cream flowers with yellow centers, at the tip of a stem carrying long glossy dark leaves, over a lawn.
FlowerDominicus Johannes BergsmaCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
2-7 ft0.6-2.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-5 ft0.9-1.5 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Japan, Kuril Is., Nansei-shoto, Primorye, Sakhalin, TaiwanGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Male and female plants are separate, and were once thought to be different species: S. fragrans for the male and S. oblata for the female. Wikipedia: Skimmia japonica

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 2, in 56 days.

28% germination in 21–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Skimmia p. 215Public domain
Show the original text
Skimmia (Rutaceae). S. japonica collected in May and WC germ. 70(21% in 12-15 d) and 40(28% in 3-8 w). The seed that did not germinate rotted quickly suggesting internal infection. The seedlings produce only the two cotyledons in the first year.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Skimmia p. 215. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

21% germination in 12–15 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Skimmia p. 215Public domain
Show the original text
Skimmia (Rutaceae). S. japonica collected in May and WC germ. 70(21% in 12-15 d) and 40(28% in 3-8 w). The seed that did not germinate rotted quickly suggesting internal infection. The seedlings produce only the two cotyledons in the first year.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Skimmia p. 215. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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