Yes. Skimmia, as a whole species, is poisonous to animals and people. Health experts list this Asian-native shrub as highly poisonous, often causing severe reactions if you consume its berries or foliage.

Are Skimmia Plants Poisonous?

No! As we covered above, eating berries from skimmia can cause heart attacks if you consume too many. For example, if your pet gets into the skimmia bush and eats its berries and leaves, it could experience cardiac arrest symptoms.

Can You Eat The Berries From A Skimmia Shrub?

If you have pets, like a dog or cat, it isn't always recommended to plant poisonous shrubs, trees, and flowers in your yard. Since skimmia is highly toxic to people and pets, having one in your landscape may not be worth the hassle.

Is It Safe To Plant Skimmia If You Have Pets?

Depending on how well their senses of poison are, it's possible and common for birds and wildlife to try and consume skimmia berries. Remember, these plants' red fruit can entice hungry creatures.

Will Birds And Wildlife Eat Skimmia?

In general, skimmia isn't very attractive if they're male because they don't produce berries. Therefore, if you have a few male plants in your garden, you shouldn't need to worry about poisoning wildlife.

If you're unfamiliar with skimmia, this species originates from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Since you will typically find most of the skimmia in Asian countries, it isn't always as popular here in the United States.

Where Do Skimmia Plants Come From?

Most times, you want to try to grow skimmia in woodland gardens. Since these ornamental shrubs prefer shade, planting them under large trees and shrubs can be a good idea.

Where Can You Grow Skimmia?

On top of that, skimmia prefer partial to mostly shaded ground conditions, often adapting to full or deep shade if need be. Additionally, skimmia won't be as noticeable to wildlife if you have them covered, which is a win-win.

Yes! Skimmia could be the perfect species for you if your garden is mainly shaded. As we said above, this Asian-native shrub handles shade very well and prefers it over total sun exposure.

Can I Grow Skimmia In Full Shade?

Many experts refer to skimmia as a shade-loving species, so it will thrive under dense tree canopies. Furthermore, skimmia can do exceptionally well as ground covers, which are perfect for heavily wooded landscapes.

When it comes to growing and caring for skimmia, this shouldn't be difficult. Besides the fact these plants can grow in heavily shaded conditions, skimmia tends to be very independent.

Is Skimmia Difficult To Grow And Manage?