Spotted Laurel Aucuba japonica

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Aucuba

  Species:

  japonica

  Family:

  Garryaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Woody

  Recommended Propagation Strategy:

  Seed

  Stem Cutting

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Asia

  Distribution:

  Native to moist woodland areas, thickets, valleys and along stre

  Play Value:

  Buffer

  Wind Screen

  Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):

  Moderately salt tolerant.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Poisonous

  Shrub

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Habit/Form:

  Arching

  Dense

  Erect

  Rounded

  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:

  High Organic Matter

  Loam (Silt)

  Sand

  Soil Drainage:

  Good Drainage

  Occasionally Wet

  Available Space To Plant:

  3 feet-6 feet

  Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

  7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Red/Burgundy

  Fruit Value To Gardener:

  Long-lasting

  Showy

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Winter

  Fruit Type:

  Berry

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  ellipsoid, one-seeded, berry-like drupes (to 1/2”) which ripen to red in fall, and often persist on the plant until spring

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Purple/Lavender

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Cyme

  Panicle

  Flower Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Shape:

  Cross

  Flower Petals:

  4-5 petals/rays

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Tiny purple-maroon flowers with creamy white anthers bloom in early spring (March-April). Each flower has four sepals and four petals. Plants in this genus are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Male flowers appear in upright terminal panicles (cymes to 4 1/2” long). Female flowers appear in shorter clusters from the leaf axils.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Broadleaf Evergreen

  Leaf Color:

  Gold/Yellow

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Glossy

  Leathery

  Leaf Value To Gardener:

  Showy

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Opposite

  Leaf Shape:

  Elliptical

  Ovate

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  > 6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  3-6 inches

  Leaf Description:

  medium to rich green leaves (each to 8” long) have coarse marginal teeth on the upper half of each leaf, young leaves exposed to sun will blacken

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Cross Section:

  Round

  Stem Surface:

  Smooth (glabrous)

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Container

  Houseplants

  Patio

  Landscape Theme:

  Children's Garden

  Drought Tolerant Garden

  Winter Garden

  Design Feature:

  Hedge

  Screen/Privacy

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Drought

  Salt

• Poison:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Nausea, vomiting, possible fever

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Aucubin, a glycoside

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  No

  Poison Part:

  Fruits

  Leaves