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skimmia jap. rubella

Lorna95Lorna95 Posts: 436
in Plants

Hi, I wonder if somebody could tell me where this plant should be, I went in to a new garden centre yesterday and asked if they could help me, I want a bush that won't get to big for a sunny spot on clay soil. She said a hebe so I got that but she also said skimmia jap. rubella, it was on at a very good price so got that aswell. But when I looked up skimmia jap. rubella on the net some sites say sun other sites are saying part shade to shade, So now I am totally confused, so could somebody please tell me where is the best place to put it. 

Thank you for any help.image

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  • Andy LeedsAndy Leeds Posts: 518

    No expert here but I also read (and seen on this forum) that skimmias are good in part to full shade.  I also believe they need moist soil so full sun may not be ideal.

    I've recently planted one rubella and two Olympic flame under a hedge, with minimal sun. Someone will come along I'm sure and advise what they are like in full sun.

    For an alternative, how about a choisya?

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Lorna, SK.Jap prefers a semi shaded position and a moist but well drained soil. Me thinks the GC has pushed you in a certain direction. I have come across skimmia's in full sun but they tend to go very pale.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,361

    I don't think they like it too limey either.

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Lorna95Lorna95 Posts: 436

    Sorry only replying now, had to take the cat to the vet's, its all go here image

    Thanks for the info Andy, I'm glad I asked before planting it, I do have somewhere it can go in semi shade, Luckily image

    Dave I don't much about this plant so I was going on the GC advice, I'm so glad I looked it up and asked on here rather than just planting it. I know what you mean about plants going pale, I bought a fatisa japonica years back, it said plant in full sun so that's what I did, it is now nearly 9ft x 9ft, but some of the leafs are very pale, even of the RHS site it says plant in sun, but then people on here said they should be in mostly shade, I planted some seeds from the big fatisa, they are just over a 1ft tall and I have them in the pot in shade and they have a lovely dark green glossy leaf, much better in the shade than the sun, This site has definitely helped me out loads.

    Thank you nut, will keep that in mind.

    Thank you all for your help.image 

  • Andy LeedsAndy Leeds Posts: 518
    Rubella is a male version of the skimmia - it will flower but if you want berries as well you could get a few females. That's what I did as per above, I.e. Olympic flame is a female variety. I think there is another 'reevesiana'??? which doesn't require a separate male for berry production.



    Just for info image
  • Lorna95Lorna95 Posts: 436

    The lady in the shop told be it would give me berries image,  Thank you for the info Andy, I will look out to see if I can find a female variety, I'm glad you have told me that. I will be on the look out now, thank you.

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,632

    Sounds like very poor advice from GC. I think we forget, that a lot of staff who work in these places, know very little about plants.

    If you can, always good to go to a proper nursery, where you will usually get much better advice.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Lorna95Lorna95 Posts: 436

    punkdoc, I live in Meath in Ireland, I only have one GC close near me and they are not very helpful at all, So I looked up a few places in Dublin and found two shops I could get to, both places seem good and give advice but when I get home and look things up, what it says on the net is different from the shop's, but even some advice on the net is different from what is on here.

    When I lived in the UK there were quiet a few nursery I could go to, but I can't really find much where I am.image

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358

    If you have the kind of weather I think you'll have Lorna ( ie - a lot of wet stuff! ) a skimmia will cope with a reasonable amount of sun because the soil won't get too dry, but they're happiest with some shade.

    Also - as long as your soil isn't alkaline it will be fine. A combination of too much sun and alkaline soil is what they don't like. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lorna95Lorna95 Posts: 436

    Thanks for the info Fairygirl, yep we get plenty of wet stuff, in the summer it is nice, but the colder months and we can get lot's of rain, I used to live in London and the weather where I am now is a bit colder than there, it is more rain but not that bad, I think. 

    I did need to get a bush for a shady area anyway so I will put it there, I'm so glad I asked on here before planting it. Just can't plant it today and we have to the wet stuff image

    Thank for your help Fairygirl

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