Female Skimmia

About this plant

Elevate your garden with the elegant Female Skimmia (Skimmia japonica), a premium evergreen shrub celebrated for its exceptional year-round beauty. From late summer through winter, this plant produces an abundance of vibrant, glossy red berries. These berries provide a spectacular visual contrast to its rich, deep green leaves, making it a focal point in any landscape. Ideal for shady borders, woodland gardens, or as a distinguished container plant, the Female Skimmia offers texture and color when many other plants fade. Its compact, mounding habit requires minimal pruning, ensuring a neat and refined appearance with little effort. For the best berry production, plant Female Skimmia with a Male Skimmia nearby for pollination. 'A Cut Above' proudly offers healthy, well-established Female Skimmia plants, perfect for adding a touch of sophisticated charm and reliable color to your outdoor spaces. Its natural elegance and low-maintenance appeal make it a perennial favorite for both novice and experienced gardeners seeking enduring beauty.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Requires minimal pruning to maintain shape; prune after berries fade in late winter or early spring. Protect from harsh winter winds in exposed locations.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.