Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Skimmia
Species: S. japonica
Cultivar binomial name: Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana
Common name: Skimmia reevesiana.
Skimmia japonica is a species of a flowering tree native to Japan, China and south East Asia.
The cultivar Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana will reach a height of 50cm to 1m. It is an evergreen domed shrub with narrow, oval, aromatic, dark green leaves. Clusters of tiny pink-tinged white star shaped fragrant flowers emerge from red buds in late spring, followed in autumn by bright red berries.
Skimmia japonica ssp. reevesiana is hermaphrodite, so does not need a pollinating partner nearby in order to produce berries.
Photographed at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. July.
Top surface of a leaf.
Another leaf shape on the same shrub.
The underside of a leaf.
