October is properly here. The Heath's turned golden, the morning school run requires wrapping up better, and those optimistic summer plantings are looking distinctly sorry for themselves. But walk through Hampstead Village or along other smarter streets of Primrose Hill, and you'll notice certain front gardens still looking remarkably pulled together. The secret? Usually, Skimmia.
This evergreen shrub has become the quiet workhorse of North London gardens. Not flashy, not trendy, just reliably good-looking from October through to spring when everything else has given up. If you're dealing with a Belsize Park shaded courtyard or if you are trying to add structure to a front garden border in Hill View, Highgate, Skimmia delivers without the fuss.
Making Every Space Count
The Townhouse Treatment
A pair of Skimmia 'Rubella' in decent planters transforms any front entrance. Those tidy front gardens you admire walking through Hampstead?! Look closer – Skimmia is often doing the heavy lifting. The berries appear in October and hang on until March, meaning you're not constantly replacing seasonal displays or staring at dead stems all winter.
For period properties with original front gardens – thinking of those Victorian terraces throughout Highgate and Camden – Skimmia in weathered lead-look planters feels appropriately classic. The white-berried varieties work particularly well against London brick, creating brightness without looking forced.
Contemporary renovations need something different. If you've just added sliding doors and a terrace, mass-planted Skimmia 'Lipstick' in modern containers creates a structure that holds its own against all that glass. The deep red berries add warmth to grey winter days, visible from inside when you're working from home.
Skimmia Japonica
Larger Gardens, Bigger Impact
For those with more generous outdoor spaces, Skimmia really comes into its own. Plant in groups of three or five (odd numbers always look more natural) to create focal points that work year-round. In partially shaded borders – under mature trees or along north-facing walls – Skimmia thrives where sun-lovers struggle.
Mix it with ferns and hellebores for a sophisticated shade planting that peaks when most gardens look bare. Or use it as an evergreen structure among deciduous shrubs, maintaining backbone when hydrangeas and roses are just twigs.
About those tricky side returns and narrow passages that plague Victorian properties; Skimmia actually prefers these shaded spots. A row of 'Pabella' in matching containers sorts out that awkward space between house and boundary, looking smart rather than forgotten.
The Ready-Made Solution
At Boma, after stocking Skimmia for so many years and a seasonal must-have, we’ve naturally nailed the art of seasonal containers that don't look like they've just come from a garden centre. Skimmia combinations must feel ‘considered’ – paired with the right companions in properly substantial planters.
Current standouts include Skimmia 'Reevesiana' with burgundy heuchera and trailing ivy in aged terracotta – one either side of your door and you've instantly upgraded your entrance. For modern tastes, they're doing sleek arrangements with white-berried varieties and black mondo grass in zinc or concrete.
The larger statement planters work brilliantly for instant impact. Think established Skimmia surrounded by winter cyclamen and silver foliage; the sort of thing you'd see outside smart Primrose Hill restaurants but available to take home today or on a windowsill on Jackson Lane, Highgate.
Festive lollipop flowering Skimmia Hedera Aqua planter
Beyond the Berries
Come late winter, just when you're desperate for signs of life, Skimmia produces clusters of fragrant flowers. Varieties like 'Fragrant Cloud' still fill February air with unexpected perfume; a proper scent that stops you noticing the general February grimness.
These flowers matter for early pollinators too. When there's literally nothing else flowering, your Skimmia becomes a bee magnet. It's the kind of detail that matters if you're trying to create a proper garden, not just a pretty display.
Through summer, when attention shifts to roses and perennials, Skimmia quietly maintains structure. No deadheading, no drama, just reliable green architecture that stops borders looking shapeless.
Skimmia Fragrant Cloud pot
Why Skimmia Works in London
Our local challenges such as shade from mature street trees, heavy clay soil, pollution from main roads, simply don't phase Skimmia. While Mediterranean plants struggle through wet winters and shade-intolerant choices fail under London planes, Skimmia just gets on with it.
For front gardens visible from the street, Skimmia provides year-round respectability without constant maintenance. For back gardens where you actually spend time, it creates structure that frames seasonal changes rather than competing with them.
The compact varieties suit smaller spaces without overwhelming them. You don't need acres – even a couple of well-placed Skimmia in decent containers can transform a basement patio or roof terrace. 'Finchy' is brilliant for pots, staying neat while producing masses of spring flowers. For berries in small spaces, 'Red Dwarf' or 'White Globe' deliver maximum impact in minimum space.
Skimmia Japonica Finchy
Getting Started
Visit Boma mid-week if you can – easier parking and proper time to chat with their staff who know what actually grows well locally. They'll steer you right whether you're after a single statement plant or planning a complete border.
For immediate impact, go for their ready-planted containers. For longer-term planning, buy several of the same variety to create rhythm through your space. Plant where you'll appreciate them most – by entrances, visible from main windows, or defining pathway edges.
Yes, add ericaceous compost if you're on heavy clay (most of us are). Water properly initially, then basically leave them alone. They're surprisingly unfussy once established.
SHOP SKIMMIA
Time to Commit
October's the perfect time to plant Skimmia – for Hampstead front gardens, Muswell Hill borders, or anywhere that needs year-round structure. We deliver throughout London within the M25, saving you wrestling plants into the car.
Our current offers make this a smart time to invest in something that'll still look good next February when everything else has given up. And if you're stuck for housewarming gifts or want to treat someone who's always moaning about their "difficult" garden, a properly planted Skimmia container beats flowers every time.
Sometimes the best gardens aren't the ones trying hardest. A few well-chosen Skimmia, looking properly settled by next autumn, might be exactly what your space needs.
Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about having an evergreen structure that performs regardless of the season – especially when the November rain's hammering down and everything else looks distinctly sad.
Ready to transform your garden with the timeless beauty of Skimmia?
If you're seeking expert advice or simply want to browse our carefully curated selection, we'd love to welcome you to Boma in Kentish Town, where our knowledgeable team can guide you through choosing the perfect varieties for your space.
Can't make it to the shop? No problem – our Skimmia collection is available online with convenient delivery throughout London's M25.
From compact courtyard gardens to sprawling suburban landscapes, let us help you discover how these remarkable evergreens can bring year-round structure, seasonal interest, and effortless elegance to your outdoor sanctuary.
