Skimmia is a genus of four species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the Rue family, Rutaceae, all native to warm temperate regions of Asia. The leaves are clustered at the ends of the shoots, simple, lanceolate, 6-21 cm long and 2-5 cm broad, with a smooth margin. The flowers are in dense panicle clusters, each flower small, 6-15 mm diameter, with 4-7 petals. The fruit is red to black, 6-12 mm diameter, a fleshy drupe containing a single seed. All parts of the plant have a pungent aroma when crushed. The botanical name, Skimmia, is a Latinization of shikimi, which is the Japanese name for Illicium religiosum as well as an element in miyama shikimi, the Japanese name for Skimmia japonica.
There are four well-defined species of skimmia that grow in the wild, all originating in Asia. They are evergreen shrubs, with dark green, oval leaves. After nearly a century of confusion, scientists in Kew’s Herbarium managed to work out the relationships between the species. With cultivars (varieties of a plant that have been created or selected intentionally and maintained through cultivation), accurate naming still poses problems but work is ongoing to unravel these complex associations. For example, 28 of the 53 known named cultivars of Skimmia japonica subsp. Japonica have been identified.
Skimmias are grown as garden plants for their foliage, flowers, and showy red fruits. They are grown in shade, with moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils. They are tolerant of both drought and air pollution. A large number of cultivars have been selected for garden use.