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Japanese laurel
Scientific Name: Aucuba japonica
Family: Cornaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Japanese Laurel (Aucuba japonica)
Considerations for Pets
- The plant produces red berries.
Considerations for Children
- The plant produces red berries.
Common Names
- Spotted Laurel
- Japanese Aucuba
- Gold Dust Plant (U.S.)
- Japanese Gold Dust Tree
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Aucuba japonica
- Synonyms:
- Aucuba variegata 'Crotonifolia'
- Aucuba vivicans
- Family:
- Garryaceae
- Comaceae (listed in some sources)
- Aucubaceae (listed in some sources)
- Cornaceae (mentioned alongside Aucuba japonica Variegata)
- Genus: Aucuba
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to rich forests of China, Taiwan, and southern Japan.
- Now grown worldwide.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- An evergreen shrub, typically growing to 1–5 meters (3.3–16.4 ft) in height.
- Known for its bold, glossy green foliage, often speckled or blotched with yellow.
- Leaves are ovate to obtusely acuminate and dark green.
- Female plants produce large red berries if cross-pollinated by male plants with reddish-purple flowers.
- Popular cultivars include 'Crotonifolia' (variegated green and gold) and 'Variegata' (yellow-spotted).
- Grows fairly slowly to form a tidy, rounded shape.
Ecological Role
- Tolerant of dry shade and urban pollution.
- Ideal for shaded areas and as evergreen screening.