Aucuba japonica

Aucuba japonica, commonly called spotted laurel, Japanese laurel, Japanese aucuba or gold dust plant (U.S.), is a shrub (1–5 m, 3.3–16.4 ft) native to rich forest soils of moist valleys, thickets, by streams and near shaded moist rocks in China, Korea, and Japan. This is the species of Aucuba commonly seen in gardens - often in variegated form. The leaves are opposite, broad lanceolate, 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) long and 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) wide. Aucuba japonica are dioecious. The flowers are small, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) diameter, each with four purplish-brown petals; they are produced in clusters of 10-30 in a loose cyme. The fruit is a red drupe approximately 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter that is avoided by birds. The golden variegation patterns are inherited from the mother plant. If the female plant is variegated, the seedlings will be variegated regardless of what the male looks like. If the female plant is green and male is variegated, the seedlings will be green. This indicates that the cause of variegation is not under the control of the DNA of the nucleus, but probably under the control of the chloroplasts where photosynthesis occurs. Chloroplasts float in the cytoplasm of each cell and are inherited from the female parent.

Description

A bushy shrub. It grows 1.8-3 m high. It forms sprouts at the base. Stems are weak and lay on the ground forming roots. The leaves are large and glossy. They They are 25 cm long and have teeth. The flowers are small and white, purple or red. The fruit are berries and are green but eventually turn scarlet. They droop in clusters. Fruit are 12 mm long. Trees can be separately male and female.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked. An emergency food. It would have to be quite an emergency to convince me to eat them.

Medicinal Uses

Poultice The leaves are pounded and applied to burns, swellings, chilblains etc.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. They can tolerate frost. It will grow on almost any soil. It can tolerate dry shade. It suits hardiness zones 7-9. At Anvers Chocolate factory. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, Indonesia, Japan*, Korea, Nepal, SE Asia, Slovenia, Tasmania, Taiwan,

Cultivation

A very tolerant and easily grown plant, it thrives in most soils and even in the total shade of trees though for good fruit production a position with at least moderate sun should be chosen. Tolerates dry soils and drought. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates salt winds. Very tolerant of atmospheric pollution. Plants are hardy to about -15°c. Often grown in the ornamental garden, there are many named varieties. The foliage can be scorched in very long hot summers if the plant is in an open position. Very tolerant of pruning, plants can be cut right back into the old wood if required. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Wash off the pulpy coating since this can inhibit germination. Stored seed should be soaked overnight and then stratified for 1 - 2 weeks at 3°c. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months or more at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once they are 20cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm long outdoors at any time between September to February though October and November are best. Very easy, even small branches will root. Layering in autumn. Takes 12 months.

Other Uses

Hedge Hedge Makes a good hedge but its large leaves mean that it is quite labour intensive to maintain if a neatly clipped appearance is desired. Unless you are happy with the large leaves being cut in half, it means that you have to trim the hedge with secateurs. The plant will eventually make large weed-excluding shrubs and are suitable for covering large areas of ground, there are some dwarf forms that can be grown for ground cover. 'Nana Rotundifolia' has been mentioned and will form a hummock of growth about 1 metre across. Special Uses Ground cover Hedge Hedge

Notes

There are 3 or 4 Aucuba species. Also put in the family Aucubaceae. There is only one genus in the Aucubaceae

Also Known As

Aucuba, Gold dust plant, Peach leaf coral, Perdu salam berbintik, Perdu salam jepang, Taoye shanhu