Skimmia Japonica

[BestIsWest]

I ordered a Skimmia Japonica Pabella online. It was described as ‘in berry’ and I was expecting it to look something like the first picture (the one with berries). What I got was the second picture. Leaving aside the condition of the plant, what have I actually been sent?

I know there are male and female plants so is that what I have here?

(I’ve complained and been refunded and told to keep the plant so won’t mention the company as I’m happy with their response).

Those leaves look nibbled, vine weevils?

I don’t know! It certainly seems to have been chomped by something but I can’t see anything.

That’s what it looks like coming up to spring. It has little white, highly scented flowers that turn into berries in autumn. The flowers should open in I think March or April time (it’s been a while since I’ve had one)

The nibbled leaves don’t look good though…

Hmm, ok so describing it as ‘in berry’ was misleading then? The ones I’ve seen in garden centres at the moment are all full of berries so that’s what I was expecting.

You won’t know if it’s male or female until the flowers open.

Female flower will have a stigma, a single stick with a knob on the end. Male flower will have stamens, several of finer threads.

I don’t know how Pabella works, whether it’s a bisexual flower (stigma and stamens), or whether the flower produces a berry without being fertilised.

check the soil for c-shaped white grubs before planting. But it could just be leaf cutter bees.

Thank you @MereDintofPandiculation I was hoping you’d show up!
I can’t see any grubs so fingers crossed it’s bees and that it’s female. I might buy a little male one anyway, they seem quite cheap and Google seems to think Pabella is female and Rubella is a good male plant for fertilisation.

Reevesiana is a self fertile one, no need for a partner to get fruits.

A lot of people grow them just for the sweetly scented flowers in early spring. But I think it’s worth having the berries too, especially since they’re not a favourite of birds and therefore last a long time.

A bit dubious selling Pabella implying it is in fruit, if it’s a female and the only way you can get fruit the following year is by buying a male to go with it.