91µ¼º½

Choosingthe rightaucuba for you

If you are looking for a medium-size, hardy, evergreen shrub for difficult shady and dry spots, Aucuba is one of the best plants to consider. However, it will also grow in sunny spot and on most soils, making a very versatile shrub. It can be also grown in large containers.

Leaf colour, flowers and berries

Many cultivars have yellow spotted or blotched leaves adding interest to dark, gloomy borders. If looking for more unusual evergreen shrub, consider Aucuba himalaica var. dolichophylla with its distinct long, narrow, lightly-spotted, willow-like leaves or Aucuba omeiensis with its bold toothed leaves up to 25cm (10in) long.

The spring flowers are insignificant, but on female plant they are followed by bright red berries as long as a male plant is growing nearby to be a pollinator

Anything that moves pollen e.g. from one flower to another. Insects such as bees are important pollinators.

. The plant label should indicate if you are buying male or female cultivar

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

or clone

A clone is a genetically identical copy of a plant, produced by asexual or vegetative reproduction. Clones have the same genetic makeup as the parent plant.

when you buy.

Aucuba as hedging

Aucuba responds well to regular pruning, making it also a good choice for hedging in shady spots where other hedging plants would struggle.

Eventual size and shape

If left unpruned, most cultivars will reach around 3m (10ft) high and wide. There are more compact cultivars, such as Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' and 'Pepperspot', growing to 1.5-2m (5-6â…”ft) tall and wide, making them a good choice for containers.

Buying Aucuba

Aucubasare widely offered for sale all year round as container-grown shrubs from a garden centres, nurseries or hedging plant suppliers.

If looking for more unusual cultivars, try contacting:

Alternatively use our RHS Find a Plant tool for stockists nearby.

When

Container-grown aucuba can be planted at any time of year, but just avoid planting when the soil is wet or frozen in winter and during dry spells in summer. Planting in spring and autumn is best.

Where

Grow in any soil as long that is not prone to being very wet. They like sun or shade. However, aucuba cultivars with heavy yellow spotting on leaves can suffer from leaf scorch if planted in a very sunny hot, dry position.

Spacing

If growing plant an individual specimen, allow at least 1.5m (5ft) between shrubs. If grown as a hedge, plant 60cm (2ft) apart

Planting your shrubs: our guide below takes you step-by-step through planting shrubs.

RHS guide to planting trees and shrubs

Planting a hedge: follow our guide to hedge planting.

Hedges: planting

Planting in containers

• Pot up in spring. Use a peat-free multipurpose compost
  

  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

  
  • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  with added John Innes or a mix of two parts peat-free John Innes No. 3, one part peat-free multipurpose compost and one part grit to improve drainage
• Gradually increase the container size over several years, repotting each spring, aiming for the final size least 45cm (18in) deep and wide

Watering

• Though tolerant of dry soils when established, water newly planted Aucuba as needed during the first growing season
  

  The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

  from spring to summer when rain is lacking
• Established plants
  

  Established plants have been in their current location for two or three years and so have well-developed root systems able to support strong growth with healthy foliage and flowers.

  seldom need watering with the exception of extremely hot and dry summers or if planted in full sun and dry soil
• Mulching with organic matter such as leafmould, garden compost
  

  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost:

  
  • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

  , manure-based soil conditioner or horticultural bark
  

  Bark is the outermost layer of woody plants (trees, shrubs and woody climbers). It is several cells thick and provides protection against physical damage, disease and environmental stresses. Bark comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and these can help gardeners when identifying plants. The fissures and crevices of bark on older plants also creates valuable habitat for many garden creatures as well as lichens and small plants.

  will help to retain moisture in the soil and reduce moisture stress
• Mulches and mulching

Feeding

• Regular feeding of established plants is not generally needed
• If plants are not growing well or have developed blackened or scorched leaves, they may benefit from a spring application of a general fertiliser

Plants in containers

• Container grown Aucuba will need watering like any other containerised plant as the shrubs can not spread their roots in soil to seek water
• Check the growing medium regularly to check if not too dry including during the winter time.
• Feed with general purpose, organic based liquid fertiliser from spring to late summer according to the manufacturers recommendations or incorporate a slow release fertiliser granules into the compost in spring

Container maintenance

When to prune

• Prune free standing shrubs in spring
• Trim established hedges from mid-spring to late summer

How to prune shrubs

• The first spring after planting cut back the last year's growth by one third to encourage more bushy growth
• On established plants
  

  Established plants have been in their current location for two or three years and so have well-developed root systems able to support strong growth with healthy foliage and flowers.

  prune back overlong shoots spoiling the shape and cut back any shoots showing signs of dieback, to healthy growth
• If the shrubs become bare at the base or overgrown, renovate in stages over several years by removing one in three of the main stems close to the base each year

Shrubs: pruning evergreens

How to prune hedges

• On newly planted hedges shorten the last year's growth by one third in spring until established
• Trim mature hedges from md-spring to late summer.
• Renovate in spring

Propagating Aucuba

• Aucuba can be easily raised from semi-ripe cuttings
  

  A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year.

  taken in late summer
• If you like a bit of a challenge, try growing Aucuba from seed. Collect ripe berries and sow them in the autumn in trays or pots of peat-free seed compost
  

  Seed compost is a free-draining compost formulated for germinating seed. It often contains a mix of fine materials including sterilised loam, coir, coarse sand or grit. It contains low levels of nutrients, as high levels could damage seedlings.

  . Overwinter in a cold frame
  

  Cold frames are glaze box-like structures made from brick or wood with a  hinged or removable, glazed, sloping lid. Useful to protect plants from cold weather over winter or acclimatise (harden off) young plants in spring and provide extra warmth for tender crops in summer.

  or place pots at the base of a house wall. Germination
  

  Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant. It starts with the seed coat absorbing water, expanding and splitting, which allows oxygen and water into the seed so its food reserves can be broken down and used by the embryo for growth. The first root (called the radicle) pushes into the soil to anchor the new plant in place and start absorbing water and nutrients. The first shoot (called the plumule) then grows upwards, out of the soil, towards the light.

  can take up to 18 months
• You can also try to root branches growing close to the ground in spring or autumn using the method of layering

Aucuba is generally free from pest and disease.

The leaves can develop blackened areas and a the shoot tops many collapse known as aucuba blackening. This is usually caused by wet soil around the roots, especially during cold and wet winters. To avoid this problem all together, plant in well-drained soils. Remove affected leaves or shoots in spring. Encourage new growth by feeding with general fertiliser such as Growmore in lateFebruary.

Cultivars with heavy yellow spotting on their leaves are best planted in shadier situation as the foliage may be scorched if planted in full sun and very dry soil.

Aucuba blackening