Aucuba Plant Care Learn About Aucuba Growing Conditions

Mild temperatures. Japanese aucuba plants survive winters in USDA plant hardiness zones 7b through 10. Well-drained soil. The ideal soil is moist with a high organic content, but the plants tolerate most any soil, including heavy clay, as long as it is well drained.

How quickly does aucuba grow?

Aucuba grows slowly, taking 10 to 20 years to reach a mature height of 6 to 10 feet and spreading to cover a 4- to 6-feet diameter; under ideal conditions, it can reach more than 15 feet tall.

Is aucuba fast growing?

The Spotted Laurel is a slow growing shrub increasing in height and spread at a rate of 20cm / 8in per year. ... It is easily pruned to shape and it makes a delightful rounded shrub.

When should aucuba be pruned?

The plant is a broadleaf evergreen, which should be pruned in early spring for best results. Light branch tipping or removal of dead wood can be done at any point in the year. A complete overhaul of a neglected Japanese aucuba plant is done in very early spring before new growth begins.

How tall does aucuba grow?

Mature Height/Spread

Aucuba usually grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. It can grow up to 15 feet tall. A dense, upright to rounded shrub, it usually remains neat and tidy.

How do you care for aucuba?

Clean up plants as necessary by snipping off broken, dead and diseased foliage and twigs. Aucuba shrubs have moderate drought tolerance, but they grow best in moist soil. Water often enough to keep the soil moderately moist using cold water. Hot water from a hose that has been left in the sun can encourage disease.

How do you propagate aucuba?

The best way to root aucuba cuttings is in rooting medium. They will develop stronger, healthier roots that won't rot as easily. Fill small pots with a rooting medium that drains freely. You can make your own from one part each of sand, vermiculite and peat moss, or you can buy a commercially prepared medium.

Why are my aucuba leaves turning yellow?

Aucuba needs an organic, acid soil that is evenly moist yet well drained meaning damp like a wrung out sponge and not saturated/sopping wet or dried out. Yellowing and dropping foliage can be a sign of overwatering or poorly drained soil, especially if it happens near the bottom of the plant first.

Why is my aucuba japonica dying?

Some of the aucuba have leaves that are turning black and wilting. ... They are suffering from Phytophthora root rot, a soil disease that commonly affects azalea, rhododendron and aucuba shrubs. The fungus itself is present in most soils.

Are aucuba berries poisonous?

5Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica 'Variegata')

Berries are poisonous if ingested.

How do you transplant aucuba?

Here's what I did to transplant it:

Choose a spot for the transplant. ...
Dig a hole approximately as deep as and twice as wide as the root ball. ...
Amend the soil. ...
Dig up the aucuba. ...
Place the aucuba in the new hole. ...
Add some mulch. ...
Water generously.

How do you prune Gold Dust aucuba?

Cut branches on the aucuba back selectively in late winter or early spring, if desired. Use sharp, clean pruning shears to cut the plant's stems back by up to one-third of their length. Make cuts just above where the stem meets another branch or a leaf node.

Where does aucuba japonica grow?

Planting and Growing Aucuba japonica

Will grow in most soils, in full sun or partial shade. Thrives in almost any situation. Will tolerate deep shade, however, good berry production and variegation are better in more open positions. Uses: Border, container, specimen shrub, under planting for deciduous trees.

Are aucuba deer resistant?

Aucuba. Evergreen, drought tolerant, and deer resistant, 'Gold Dust' will give you that year long splash of color in your garden. ... The glossy leaves are unappealing to deer and once the Aucuba is established, it is drought resistant, though in our unyielding NC heat, I would choose a shady spot in your yard.

How do you plant gold dust in aucuba?

Plant in full to part shade, avoiding afternoon sun. Too much sun can cause leaf scorch. The Gold Dust Plant adapts to different soil types as long as they drain well. Water deeply once or twice weekly when newly planted.

Is aucuba an evergreen?

Aucuba japonica, commonly called spotted laurel, is a rounded, shade-loving, evergreen shrub in the Garryaceae family, a small family that includes just two genera Garrya and Aucuba. It typically grows to 6-10' (infrequently to 15') tall, unless pruned shorter.

How do you take care of gold dust plants?

Gold dust plant thrives in full shade. It will tolerate a few hours of morning sunlight, but its leaves will scorch when exposed to extended periods of full sun. A woodland plant, it thrives in rich, deep, moist soil that is well-drained. Prior to planting, enrich the soil with a well-decomposed compost.

Why are my shrubs turning black?

Black leaves on the branches of a shrub are unsightly and can be caused by factors that lead to an overall decline in plant health. The most common cause of black leaves is a mold caused by fungi that coat the leaves, called sooty mold.

Can aucuba be grown indoors?

Their tropical-looking evergreen leaves make Aucuba plants a perfect choice for bringing a flare of the tropics to your landscape. You can also grow them indoors as a houseplant.

Can you prune aucuba japonica?

Aucuba (spotted laurel)

Although fruiting spotted laurels are best pruned during March or April, non-fruiting male varieties, such as Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia', can be pruned now. Initially, prune back new growth by about one-third to promote bushy growth.

Can you grow Japonica from cuttings?

This varietal can be propagated both by seed and stem-tip cutting. It's unlikely your plant will flower indoors, so you are better off opting for the stem-tip cutting method. To propagate, taking a cut of stem from a mature plant early in the growing season and use a rooting hormone for best success.