Spotted Corner lover (Aucuba)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Aucuba
Date:	30/04/02 (1453 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely colours

Disadvantages: Bugs

On to one of my personal favourite plants just so happens to be Aucuba Japonica or Japanese Spotted Laurel to give it it's English name.
A completely wrong name if you ask me as it is not related to the Laurel Species at all. These belong to the Prunus family and not Aucuba.
I find it a beautiful shrub that is quick to establish and easy to propagate so you can have many more acubas in your garden from one plant.
Anyway, on with the description.

Background.
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Originating in sub tropical regions, the succulent Aucuba has large flesh stems and lacks the woody appearance that gives the rigidity to many large shrubs.
Its evergreen foliage gives it year round interest and colour while its condensed growth and shape make it low maintenance.
The bright red berries it produces contrasts nicely against its green foliage.

Foliage/Flowers.
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The Aucuba has wonderful large Evergreen leaves that look like they have been speckled with Gold. This gives it's variegated variety the name "Gold Dust" plant. The leaves have a serated edge are are quite large, up to 20CM long and 15CM Wide. The leaves grow quite densely making a great screen plant as well as an individual shrub.

Conditions.
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Despite its moderate water requirements, the Aucuba does like partial shade. However, give it too much and you will reduce the variegated colours in the leaves to such an extent that it will become almost purely green. I find the best location is a corner for an aucuba. It shoud be in a corner that gets the early morning sun, when it is less strong or very late afternoon, evening sun. Full sun tends to scorch the plant and reduce its growth.
Soil needs to be moist but not waterlogged. A good drainage is best.

Pests/Disease.
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It remains quite hardy and not prone to disease which is unusual for sub tropical plants in our conditions. The only nu
isance comes from small bugs that tend to feed on the leaves, particularly younger plants. Huge pieces seem to go missing when they feast, causing an ugly plant.

Propagation.
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Very easy. Snip off a 30Cm shoot from last year's growth in February/March and remove the lowest leaves. Dip in rooting powder and place in a cold frame or greenhouse in gravel/compost mix. By late April, fresh growth should be visible. Planting out can take place by end of May/Beginning of June.

Price.
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They are freely available and you can buy these very cheaply at the garden centre. Pay more than £5 and you have been ripped off.

Size/Growth.
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Forms a small bush of about 5 ft in 4 years.
Dense size and very rounded. Shaping with seccaturs or a hedge trimmer will keep it in trim . Ideal for large scale topiary.

Overall.
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I love this plant! I have 2 baby ones growing on from cuttings out of my mothers garden and cant wait to get them in the ground. I bought her the original many years ago and it sits in the SouthEast corner of the garden. Evening sun maintains its colour. A great plant!

Summary: