Not All Shrubs Require Full Sun

Although berry shrubs usually require full sun, there are several handsome evergreen shrubs with berries that can be used to bring color to shady areas also.

Outstanding among these are Ardisia, Skimrnia and Aucuba. The Ardisia japonica or Japanese Ardisia produces bright red berries in the fall and winter of the year. It has deep green, large leathery leaves and pale pink flowers followed by showy red berries. This shrub prefers an acid soil in the shade and grows slowly to a height of 18 inches. Skimmia is available in several species and hybrids. It is a hardy evergreen and a most useful shrub for shade plantings.

With glossy green leaves, the Skimmia is a compace, rounded plant. Clusters of tiny white flowers are held above the foliage in the spring and brilliant red holly-like berries appear in the fall staying until December. Skimmia japonica grows slowly to a height of two to five feet and must be planted in groups of male and female plants if berries are desired. On the other hand, Skimmia reevesiana is self fertile and grows to only two feet. The hybrid Skimmia formannii is a cross between the two aforementioned S. japonica and S. reevesiana.

If the area in which you intend to plant the Skimmia has alkaline soil, be sure to work peat moss and. sand into the soil before setting on the shrub. A safe rule to follow is to plant Skimmia wherever you plant Azaleas. Skimmia leaves are sensitive to the sun and will yellow when planted in the direct sun. However, the deeper the shade in which they are planted, the deeper green will be the color of the leaves. Skimmia may be planted under low windows, flanking entrance walks or on shady banks.

Container planting is also acceptable provided you set the boxes and tubs in the shade. Well known throughout the west, the Oucuba japonica or Japanese Aucuba, sometimes called the Greenleaf Aucuba is popular because it is so tolerant of soil and temperature extremes. With clean, lush foliage, this shrub provides interest all year around. Minute flowers bloom in the spring and bright red berries appear in the fall. There are several varieties of this Aucuba. The Gold Dust Plant (A. japonica maculata) has green leaves speckled with yellow and red berries while silver variegated leaves with pale pinkish-buff fruit make the japonica fruncto-albo a handsome variety. The Grotonleaf Aucuba (japonica Croton) surpasses other Aucuba variations with its brilliantly colored speckled leaves.

The dwarf Aucuba (japonica nuna) is a short plant but with heavy clusters of large berries. You'll find many more varieties at your local nursery. Aucubas eventually reach six to 10 feet and must have full shade for the leaves will sun-burn in the summer sun and blacken in winter sun. Water generously prune by cutting back a joint or node on the stem. Planted in masses behind the Skimmia japonica the Aucubais very attractive.

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/plant/Skimmia.htm