Plant Library

Other Names:  Gold Dust Aucuba

Description:

This stunning evergreen solves the problem of the most shaded garden areas and adds eye catching color; flowers and berries are not really noticeable; ideal as a dense screen; drought tolerant once established; protect from cold winter winds

Ornamental Features

Variegated Japanese Aucuba has attractive yellow-spotted dark green foliage on a plant with a round habit of growth. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Japanese Aucuba is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Variegated Japanese Aucuba is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Variegated Japanese Aucuba will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun, although it will also grow in full shade. Keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.