Skimmias are dependable evergreen garden shrubs that can provide either attractive autumn berries or fragrant white flowers. Female varieties will develop berries in autumn provided they have been pollinated by a male plant. Male plants do not produce berries but have fragrant white flowers in spring. There are hermaphrodite varieties that produce both male and female flowers on the same plant and will set berries on their own. The attractive flower buds of male varieties develop in autumn and last right the way throughout winter before opening out to provide fragrant white flowers in spring. Being naturally low growing with a spreading habit, they make excellent subjects for growing in containers and look good throughout the year. They can flourish in a sunny or shady position and are reliably hardy.
