Skimmia arborescens T.Anderson ex Gamble

This species was first described in 1916 though collected almost a century earlier by Wallich. A native of the eastern Himalaya, possibly extending as far as southern China, this makes a large shrub or small tree, with thin, rather bullate, acuminately tapered leaves up to 7 in. long; fruits black. It was introduced by Nigel Taylor from Nepal in 1981, but is of doubtful hardiness near London. At Wakehurst Place most of the young plants raised were killed by frost when planted out, but one has survived and is growing well.