Aucuba japonica is belonging to Garryaceae family.  This small family covers only two genera; Garrya and Aucuba. Aucuba is a genus that held 3 species; Aucuba japonica, Aucuba chinensis and Aucuba himalaica but has recently been expanded to 10 species. Spotted Laurel is native to China, Taiwan, and southern Japan. Genus name comes from the Latinized version of the Japanese name aukubi which means ‘blue tree’ for these shrubs. Specific epithet means native to Japan.

Aucubas are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), evergreen shrubs with oval leaves, arranged in pairs, alternate on 1cm long leaf-stalk. 10-15 cm long, glossy and coarsely toothed leathery leaves are attractively variegated in many cultivars. They grow to about 300 cm tall and wide. Small purple flowers appear in spring, followed on female plants by large glossy red fruit at autumn. Each flower has four sepals and four petals. Flowers held close to the stem are female and flowers on an erect flower stalk with four little yellow anthers are male. Fruits often persist on the plant until spring.

Spotted Laurel is tolerant of full shade, dry soil, pollution, and salt winds. It’s adaptable to almost any soil, except waterlogged soil. May be used in full sun to part-shade but in hot summer areas they need full shade. Aucuba japonica grows best in shaded areas. Plants growing in exposed areas may develop black leaf spots or blotches. It is very resistant to freeze, withstand – 20˚C. Propagation is easly done by semi-ripe cuttings in summer or from seed sown at autumn. No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot may occur in poorly-drained or overly-wet soils. The fruit and leaves of Spotted Laurel are poisonous if ingested.

Nowadays there are hundreds of cultivars of Aucuba japonica, some of the popular cultivars:

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Crotonifolia’ Spotted Laurel has leaves that look like they were speckled with golden-yellow paint. This variety is a female clone with somewhat larger leaves than standard species. It requires a male plant nearby to produce red berries. Slow-growing, it will only reach 180 cm after ten years if left unpruned, maximum height and spread is 250 cm. Like all aucuba varieties, ‘Crotonifolia’ will grow in both full sun and shade – although it’s gold-blotched and finely-speckled leaves colour best in partial shade.

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Gold Dust’ is female with heavy yellow speckling

Aucuba japonica cv.  ‘Variegata’ is the most popular cultivar of this species. Its leaves are heavily spotted with gold-coloured markings. This is a female clone.

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Goldiena’ is a cultivar with a yellow centre and contrasting green margins.

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Mr. Goldstrike’ is male, more upright, and has gold-splashed leaves.

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Nana Rotundifolia’ Compact, tight form, female variety with green with dusting of yellow colour smaller than usual leaves.

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Salicifolia’ A narrow leaved, free-fruiting form.

Aucuba japonica cv. ‘Hime Kikufurin’ Female form, green leaves with yellow margins.

Use in Landscape: Aucuba’s are popular because of theirs large shiny, evergreen leaves, which are often variegated, and its bright red berries which are only present on female plants if it is pollinated.

Aucuba japonica are grown for their bold foliage, autumn fruit and for their ability to thrive in the most difficult of garden environments such as dry soil shade. It also copes with pollution and salt-laden coastal winds. They are cultivated as woody shrub, used for beds and borders, screening, hedge but can make a handsome specimen plant or focal point into the landscape. It is used for woodland garden styles, architectural patio and container plants for coastal locations. Spotted Laurel may also be grown indoors as a houseplant.