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Skimmia japonica (x confusa?) 'Kew Green'

Skimmia

Plant Type:

BROADLEAF EVERGREEN SHRUBS

Skimmia japonica (x confusa?) 'Kew Green' (ex: Jonathan Lehrer, Environmentals) - ​With a bit of uncertainty regarding the exact cultivar this is probably 'Kew Green'. 'Kew Green' is a choice male with larger eye-catching greenish white extraordinarily fragrant flowers with no hint of red in them. The foliage is also especially handsome, large, dark green and densely set. Some believe that 'Kew Green' and 'Chelsea Physic' are confusa hybrids; the word "confusa" should give you some idea as to how messed-up the identification is! Actually, this would have both cultivars with S. japonica x laureola parentage. 'Chelsea Physic' is very similar to 'Kew Green' except that it is smaller in all respects. When I asked Jonathan if this might be 'Chelsea Physic' this was his response: "It could be, Wayne. I'm only surmising because Roslyn Nursery used to offer 'Kew Male' and 'Kew Green' years ago and I'm sure the plants came from Environmentals. That was when Jim Cross was alive, so the names were probably accurate. But it's tough to say for sure. There appear to have been QUITE A FEW clones mixed in those old hoop houses at Environmentals. And very few labels..." And so based upon Jonathan's sage input we are offering this as 'Kew Green'. Oi. Himalayas (S. laureola), Japan (S. japonica) or in the case of hybridization: garden origin. Spring planting advised in the north. Cutting grown.


Height:

24-36 in

Spread:

24-36 in

Colors:

White

Zone:

(6 protected)7 to 9
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Skimmia japonica (x confusa?) 'Kew Green'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Four Seasons

Autumn Interest

  • Showy Buds

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant

Light

  • Dappled Shade
  • Shade

Attributes

  • Border
  • Evergreen
  • Foundation
  • Fragrant
  • Labyrinth
  • Massing
  • Woodland
  • Shrub Border

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Fertile
  • Organic
  • Acid

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Skimmia

Common Name: Japanese Skimmia

These broadleaf evergreens with simple, alternate leaves cast a medium to medium dark green color. They slowly sucker and in time will form ground covering colonies that are simply beautiful. Clustered showy buds are red to maroon; inflorescences are rounded domes. Though flowers are small, the gestalt of the entire collection of tightly packed florets on the individual flowering structures is showy. Flowers are usually white, larger and a bit more fragrant on males.

Skimmia is dioecious; as with hollies males and females must be present for fruit production (except for S. reevesiana whose flowers are bisexual.) Females form beautiful semi-glossy red fruit which ripens in autumn persisting until the following spring. Each fruit is approximately 1/3 inch diameter. There is also a striking white berrying form, 'Wakehurst White'. Please note that the fruit is poisonous.

USDA climate zone 7 is the northern end of their cold hardiness range. We in northeastern Connecticut are slightly north of Skimmia's Mason-Dixon line. However, I have a customer in Voluntown - not far from us in Brooklyn - who claims she's getting them through just fine in a sheltered spot. However, she may be growing Skimmia reevesiana which is said to harbor greater hardiness than S. japonica.

Culture is easy. All are content in dappled or open shade, an east exposure with morning sun is acceptable. Organic, fertile soils on the acid side of the Ph scale which retain moisture between rains are required for best performance. And I would venture to say that at the northern end of their range protection from searing winter winds is cautioned - this is a general rule of thumb for all broadleaf evergreens. All the following are cutting grown.

Some of our offering we believe to be honest to goodness named cultivars. But any with the least bit of uncertainty will be discussed so that you will be informed. Beyond our selection it is unfortunate that Skimmia identification in the larger botanic world is an entangled mess.