Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ – Evergreen Elegance with Striking Winter Buds

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs for bringing year-round beauty to gardens and patios. Compact and bushy, it is best known for its eye-catching deep red flower buds, which appear in autumn and hold through the entire winter, providing a bold splash of colour when few other plants are at their best.

In spring, the buds open into fragrant clusters of creamy-white flowers that attract bees and pollinators. Its glossy, aromatic green foliage adds further charm, making it a perfect shrub for containers, shady borders, or as a winter feature plant. The 20+ flower buds on this plant mean it’s already well-prepared to deliver seasonal impact in your garden.

General Information

Native to woodland areas of Japan and Southeast Asia, Skimmia japonica is a reliable evergreen valued for its ability to thrive in shade. The cultivar ‘Rubella’ is particularly prized for its richly coloured winter buds.

• Growth habit: Compact, bushy, rounded evergreen shrub

• Height & spread: Typically reaches 80–100cm tall and wide

• Foliage: Glossy, aromatic dark-green leaves, evergreen year-round

• Buds: Deep red flower buds appear in autumn and persist through winter

• Flowers: Fragrant clusters of white blooms in spring, loved by pollinators

• Position: Prefers partial to full shade; avoid hot, direct sun

• Hardiness: Fully hardy, tolerating cold and frost

• Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil (best in ericaceous compost)

• Uses: Excellent in containers, shady borders, courtyards, or as a compact specimen shrub

The long-lasting buds and evergreen leaves ensure this plant offers interest for many months of the year.

Care Guide

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ is very easy to grow, making it a superb low-maintenance choice for gardens of all sizes.

Planting

• Best planted in partial to full shade for lush foliage and strong bud colour.

• Use fertile, moist, well-drained soil; avoid alkaline soils.

• For containers, use ericaceous compost to maintain the correct soil acidity.

• Mulch around the base to conserve moisture and improve soil structure.

Watering & Feeding

• Keep soil evenly moist, especially in containers.

• Avoid waterlogging, as skimmias dislike soggy soil.

• Feed in spring with an ericaceous fertiliser to maintain healthy foliage and abundant buds.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Minimal pruning required; trim lightly after flowering if shaping is needed.

• Remove any yellowing leaves (usually caused by alkaline soil).

• Deadhead faded flowers to keep the shrub tidy.

Protection

• Fully hardy in the UK and Ireland; no winter protection required.

• Container-grown plants may need protection from drying winds in very exposed sites.

• Apply a mulch in winter to protect roots and conserve soil moisture.

Why Choose Skimmia ‘Rubella’?

‘Rubella’ is one of the best-loved skimmia varieties, and for good reason. It combines glossy evergreen foliage with dramatic red buds that hold all winter before bursting into fragrant white flowers in spring.

• Decorative buds: Deep red buds last from autumn through spring

• Compact size: Perfect for containers, patios, and small gardens

• Evergreen: Glossy foliage provides year-round structure

• Shade-tolerant: Thrives where many other shrubs struggle

• Low-maintenance: Hardy, easy to grow, and long-lived

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ (with 20+ flower buds) is an ideal choice for gardeners wanting a compact evergreen shrub that shines in the darkest months. Whether used in containers by a doorway, in shaded borders, or as a winter focal point, it delivers colour, fragrance, and structure all year round.

• Size
  C2 / 20+ flwr.

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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