Aucuba japonica
An evergreen shrub native to East Asia with glossy, variegated leaves and red berries on female plants, tolerates shade and urban conditions, grows 6–10 ft tall, and is often used as a hedge.
Common Names
Japanese Laurel, Spotted Laurel, Gold Dust, Japanese Aucuba, Aucuba, Gold Dust Plant, Gold Leaf Plant, Variegated Laurel
Summary
Native to East Asia and Japan, this evergreen broadleaf shrub grows 6–10 ft tall with a 5–9 ft spread and forms a dense upright-rounded habit. Leaves are glossy, leathery, opposite, and may be solid green or variegated with gold; variegated forms include Gold Dust and Variegata. Flowers are small purple in spring, and female plants bear bright red berries in fall when pollinated by a nearby male; foliage remains lustrous year-round, offering year-round visual interest; it tolerates drought and urban pollution and adapts to a wide range of light and soil conditions.
Under cultivation, it prefers shade to deep shade with well-drained, moist soils rich in organic matter; overhead watering should be avoided, and establishment requires regular moisture, though established plants are drought tolerant. It is commonly used as hedging, screening, background plant, or container specimen and can be grown in ground or containers; propagation is by cuttings or seed, and pruning is optional, usually performed to control height or form after flowering. It is hardy to USDA zones 6–9 and tolerates clay soils and urban conditions; variegated forms may scorch in hot sun.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6-10 feet
Spread
4-6 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full shade; range includes partial shade to full shade.
Soil Type
Loamy, moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; slightly acidic to near neutral.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Insignificant
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green to dark green leaves, often variegated with yellow or gold speckles or mottling.
Fall Foliage Color
No fall color change
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Slow growth
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Thunb.
- Publication
- Nov. Gen. Pl. 3: 61 (1783)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Garryales
- Family
- Garryaceae
- Genus
- Aucuba
Inferior Taxa
Aucuba japonica var. borealis Aucuba japonica var. japonica Aucuba japonica var. ovoidea