Pollinator plant

Japanese Skimmia

Skimmia japonica

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Common names

14 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Japanse skimmia[2][3]
  • Skimmia
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • skimie japonská[3]
Finnish
Japanese
  • ミヤマシキミ[3]
Polish
  • Skimmia japońska[3]
Russian
  • Скиммия японская[3]
Slovak
  • skimia japonská[3]
Swedish
  • vinterbär[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Skimmia japonica — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Japanese Skimmia — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Skimmia japonica.
[2] Skimmia japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese Skimmia — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • Skimmia du Japon — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • Japanse skimmia — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
[3] Skimmia japonica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese Skimmia — results[22].names[1]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • Skimmia du Japon — results[22].names[2]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • Japanse skimmia — results[22].names[8]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • skimie japonská — results[22].names[3]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • vinterbär — results[22].names[4]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • 茵芋 — results[22].names[5]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • 茵芋 — results[22].names[6]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • Скиммия японская — results[22].names[7]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • Skimmia japońska — results[22].names[9]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • ミヤマシキミ — results[22].names[10]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • skimmia — results[22].names[11]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
  • skimia japonská — results[22].names[12]; taxon id 128909; Skimmia japonica.
[4] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • skimmia — Page 2, column 2, row top 307 pt; common-name cell after Skimmia japonica.; Skimmia japonica.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Skimmia japonica is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rutaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–2.13 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.91–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Mounding; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Slow

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Skimmia japonica in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Native range
S. Russian Far East, Japan to Taiwan.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica) is a shrub. It flowers from May to June.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Skimmia japonica — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2471863; ID 6Z3Y4; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2471863; ID 6Z3Y4; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Skimmia japonica — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering season
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Skimmia japonica (top 307 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Skimmia japonica — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 351739; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1113032, 1113033, 1113034, 1113035, 1113036, 1113037

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.