Blotched-Leaved Laurel Aucuba japonica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- aw-KOO-bah ja-PO-ni-kah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Aucuba, a member of the silk tassel family (Garryaceae), is a woody, broadleaf, evergreen shrub. It is native to China, the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and Japan, where it can be found in moist woodland areas, thickets, valleys and along streams. The species epithet is Latin for "Japanese."
Partial shade to deep shade is the best growing environment. Young leaves exposed to the sun will blacken. Soil conditions should be loamy clay, sand, or high organic matter. The soil needs to have good drainage, moist to occasionally dry or wet conditions. Aucuba tolerates poor soils and urban conditions like air pollution. The foliage is susceptible to windburn, so plant it in a protected area. Aucuba typically grows 6 to 10 feet (infrequently to 15 feet) tall, unless pruned shorter. The flowers bloom on new wood; therefore, pruning, if needed, may be done in late winter and early spring. Plant 3 to 6 feet apart. It is propagated by seed or stem cutting.
Plants in this genus are dioecious, meaning they have male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are small, dull and not very showy. They are pollinated by small flies. If both sexes are planted near each other, the female plants will produce showy red fruits in the winter, providing year-round interest. The variegated cultivars are more common in cultivation than the green cultivars.
Aucuba can be grown in containers around the patio or in recreational play areas. It does well in Asian, children's gardens, shade, cottage and winter gardens. It can be used as a hedge or privacy screening, foundation planting or shrubby border.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are glossy, coriaceous, elliptic, and opposite
- Leaves are entire or dentate on green stems
- Long-lasting red/burgundy fruit color is present (on female plants) from fall to spring
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Plants occasionally suffer from scale, root rot, nematodes, and mealybugs. Fungal leaf spot and southern blight sometimes occur.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Bird-Friendly Spaces A Sampling of Shade Gardens Rock & Water Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Dwarf Green'
- 'Nana'
Dwarf cultivar is compact, 3' x 3', slow grower; foliage green with dusting of yellow. - 'Natsu no Kumo'
Green eerrated leaves; new growth with golden marginal color - 'Ogon no Tsuki'
Leaves with golden blotches in the center of green leaves. - 'Pacman'
Aucuba with non-variegated, small, contorted leaves
'Picturata'
- 'Rozzanie'
Red fruits - 'Serratifolia'
- 'Sulphurea Marginata'
Large yellow margined leaves
'Variegata'
Low growing variety
A juvenile form of gold dust with leaves bearing a broad yellow medial area; with age leaves look like gold dust.
Shrub with green leaves maculate with golden yellow spots & blotches - 'Nana'
- 'Dwarf Green', 'Nana', 'Natsu no Kumo', 'Ogon no Tsuki', 'Pacman', 'Picturata', 'Rozzanie', 'Serratifolia', 'Sulphurea Marginata', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Dwarf Green'
- 'Nana'
Dwarf cultivar is compact, 3' x 3', slow grower; foliage green with dusting of yellow. - 'Natsu no Kumo'
Green eerrated leaves; new growth with golden marginal color - 'Ogon no Tsuki'
Leaves with golden blotches in the center of green leaves. - 'Pacman'
Aucuba with non-variegated, small, contorted leaves
'Picturata'
- 'Rozzanie'
Red fruits - 'Serratifolia'
- 'Sulphurea Marginata'
Large yellow margined leaves
'Variegata'
Low growing variety
A juvenile form of gold dust with leaves bearing a broad yellow medial area; with age leaves look like gold dust.
Shrub with green leaves maculate with golden yellow spots & blotches - 'Nana'
- 'Dwarf Green', 'Nana', 'Natsu no Kumo', 'Ogon no Tsuki', 'Pacman', 'Picturata', 'Rozzanie', 'Serratifolia', 'Sulphurea Marginata', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aucuba
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Garryaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia and Japan
- Distribution:
- Native to moist woodland areas, thickets, valleys, and along streams in Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea.
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Screening
- Wind Break
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Red, ellipsoid, one-seeded, berry-like drupes (to ½ inch) which ripen in fall, and provide interest through spring.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Purple-maroon, 4 petals, 4 sepals, cross-shaped with white anthers bloom in early spring. Not particularly showy and tiny. Dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) with the male flowers in terminal cymes or panicles 4½ inches long. Female flowers are shorter and appear in leaf axils.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Medium to dark green leaves, elliptic to ovate (8 inches long) with marginal teeth on the upper half of each leaf. Leaves are opposite.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Fleshy stem that makes propagation easy.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
- Pollution
- Salt
