Bitterroot Restoration

Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica), also called Gold Dust plant or Japanese aucuba, is in many areas of the country a common outdoor shrub. Aucuba japonica plants are either male or female, this cultivar is female, bearing bright red berries in Autumn. Thick, leathery leaves are spotted yellow. They are pollution tolerant so particularly suited to urban and suburban gardens. Average growth is 20-30 cm p.a., and should be trimmed to shape in late summer. This is a very reliable shrub which will grow well in most soils and, unlike most variegated species will not lose its variegation even in shade, but is not suitable for seaside gardens, alkaline soil or particularly wet sites.