Aucuba japonica Aucuba, Spotted Laurel
Family
Garryaceae
Genus
Aucuba
Species
japonica [jap-ON-ik-a]
of Japan
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, they have separate male and female
plants. The flowers are small, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) diameter, with four purplish-brown
petals; they are produced in clusters of 10-30 in a loose cyme. The fruit is a red berry
approximately 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter, which is avoided by birds.