Japanese aucuba (Aucuba japonica) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Japanese aucuba is an evergreen shrub grown in shady U.S. gardens, with glossy leaves and red fruit that can last through winter. Male and female flowers usually grow on separate plants, and most female plants need a nearby male to set fruit.

Appearance

Growth form: This shrub usually reaches 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m) in U.S. landscapes.
Leaves: The opposite leaves are large, glossy, and leathery, with coarse teeth mostly on the upper half. Many garden varieties have yellow spots or blotches.
Flowers: Tiny maroon-purple flowers appear in early spring. Male and female flowers are usually carried on separate plants.
Fruit: Female plants can carry red, oval fruit from fall through spring when a male plant grows nearby.

Look-alikes

Japanese camelliaCamellia japonica

Japanese camellia has alternate, smaller leaves with fine teeth and large showy winter or spring flowers. Japanese aucuba has opposite, larger leaves and tiny maroon flowers.

Why they get mixed upBoth are shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs with glossy, leathery leaves.

coral ardisiaArdisia crenata

Coral ardisia has alternate leaves and clusters of many small berries below the foliage. Japanese aucuba has opposite leaves and larger, oval fruit.

Why they get mixed upBoth have dark evergreen foliage and persistent red fruit.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: shade gardens
woodland edges
containers
Range: It is native to moist woodlands in East Asia and is grown as an ornamental shrub across much of the United States.
Preferred conditions: Partial to deep shade and moist, well-drained soil suit it best. It is used outdoors mainly in 7a–10b, and strong sun or wind can damage the foliage.

Growing it

Propagation: Garden plants can be propagated from seed, stem cuttings, or .
Toxicity: Eating leaves or fruit may cause nausea, vomiting, or fever, although reported severity is low.

Name and classification

About the name: Japanese aucuba is also called spotted laurel.
Varieties and forms: Varieties with yellow-speckled or yellow-centered leaves are more common in U.S. gardens than plain green forms. The named garden variety ‘Rozannie’ can set some fruit without a nearby male plant.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: It is valued as a low-maintenance hedge or screen in heavily shaded gardens.
The common name “gold dust plant” usually refers to yellow-speckled garden cultivars.

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