Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'
Variegata is a a female cultivar with glossy leaves heavily spotted with creamy-yellow; small purple flowers may be followed by glossy bright red berries if a male clone is nearby. Extremely tolerant of shade and dry conditions.
Medium-sized to large hardy evergreen shrub. Thrives in most soils in sun, partial or deep shade. Tolerant of poor dry soil once established but objects to cold winter winds and frost pockets.Gold-dust plant can be planted nearby tree roots, and responds well to pruning.
Flowering period
Planting period
About this plant
Spotted Laurel Aucuba
Spotted laurels (Aucuba) are evergreen shrubs from the woodlands of Japan, China and the Himalayas. The genus has only a few species, each with separate male and female plants; in gardens almost only Aucuba japonica is grown. They are prized for their large, glossy leaves, often marked with yellow or cream, which brighten shady corners all year round.
Spotted laurel Aucuba japonica
Japanese laurel forms a dense, rounded shrub with thick, leathery leaves that carry coarse teeth towards the tip. Small purple-red flowers appear in spring, and pollinated female plants bear clusters of bright red berries from autumn until spring. Garden forms range from compact to around 3 m tall, and from plain green to boldly variegated.
Location and soil
Best in shade or partial shade in a fertile, humus-rich soil that drains well; established plants cope with short dry spells. Variegated forms keep their colour best in light shade. Hardy in Belgium; in very harsh winters a spot sheltered from cold wind helps.
Pruning and care
Water regularly in the first year, afterwards only during long dry periods; in open ground no feeding is needed. Prune if desired from February to April to shape or thin the shrub. Avoid wet soil: blackened leaves usually point to too much sun, dropping leaves to poor drainage.
Use in the garden
Suited to formal and informal hedges, to brightening dark corners and the back of shady beds, and to city and coastal gardens. It grows well in large pots. Plant male and female plants together for berries, and keep in mind that the berries are toxic.
Characteristics
Botanical
| Family | Garryaceae |
| Genus | Aucuba |
| Species | japonica |
| Cultivar | 'Variegata' |
Flowering
| Flowering period | april, may |
| Colour (flower) | white |
Foliage
| Evergreen | yes |
| Colour (foliage) | green, yellow, variegated |
Growth habit
| Height | 250 cm, 150 cm |
Location
| Winter hardiness | -20 °C |
| Soil type | neutral |
| Location | half shade, shade |
| Soil moisture | moist, dry, normal |
Use
| Type (use) | hedge plant, fruit/berries, solitary, in group |