Variegated Laurel Aucuba japonica
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Variegated Laurel:
Previously known as:
- Aucuba japonica Cornaceae
- Phonetic Spelling
- aw-KYOO-bah jah-PON-ih-kah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Spotted laurel, in the Garryaceae (silk tassel) family, is a woody, broadleaf, evergreen shrub with variegated leaves. It is native to East Asia and Japan, but has become well adapted to the North Carolina environment.
It can be found in moist woodland areas, thickets, valleys, and along streams. 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. The plant will tolerate poor soils and urban conditions like air pollution. The foliage is susceptible to windburn so plant in a protected area. Spotted laurel 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. If planted near each other, the female plants will produce showy red fruits in the winter providing year-round interest.
Spotted laurel can be grown in containers around the patio or in recreational play areas. It does well in children's gardens, shade, and winter gardens. It can be used as a hedge or privacy screening.
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 from fall to spring
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Plants occasionally suffer from scale, root rot, nematodes, and mealybugs. Fungal leaf spot, southern blight sometimes occurs.
- 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 Serrated Leaves - Ogon no tsuki
- '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 Serrated Leaves - Ogon no tsuki
- '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:
- 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, and Korea, it is winter hardy in protected areas to zone 6b (-5 - 0).
- 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 1/2”) 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 4 1/2” 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:
- 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” long) with marginal teeth on the upper half of each leaf, young leaves exposed to the sun will blacken. Opposite, simple, coriaceous, elliptic-ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, entire to dentate along margins.
-
-
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:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
- Pollution
- Salt