Aucuba japonica Japanese aucuba, spotted laurel
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
1,5-2,5m
usual width
1,5-3m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
full sun to shade
soil type
acidic (peaty) to neutral
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
7 (down to -23°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Aucuba
Spotted laurel is a popular evergreen shrub, commonly grown especially in Britain and in milder parts of humid regions of Germany and Benelux. The first specimen was brought from Japan to Europe in 1783, and has been sought after ever since. The most attractive features are the unusual shape of foliage and beautiful variegation on some cultivars, hence its name Spotted laurel.Description of the plant:
The species of Japanese aucuba is, however, not spotted. It has large, 20-30 cm long, widely elliptic to oblong, deep green, glossy leaves that are shallowly serrated at margins. Clusters of small flowers appear from mid spring, and female plants, if pollinated by male pollen, produce vivid red fruit in late summer and autumn. The fruit is not edible and might cause stomach upset.Green aucuba grows moderately to fast in humus-rich soils and reaches about 1.5 m both in height and spread in gardens and almost twice as much in parks and other places with unlimited root space.
It can be grown in both full sun and deep shade. Our best plants are located in filtered sunlight with some shelter from drying winter sun and they are beautiful and unharmed. The soil has to be fertile, preferably acid or neutral, evenly moist but well-drained. In wet ground dangerous fungi diseases grow and these could kill the entire plant. Extra watering is advisable in frost-free periods of winter when the ground is not frozen. Hardy to approx. -24°C (USDA zone 6).
Last update 20-01-2013; 20-03-2025
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