Aucuba japonica 'Variegata' - Spotted Laurel
The Classic Victorian Spotted Laurel for Shaded Gardens
Overview
Aucuba japonica 'Variegata', commonly known as the Gold Dust Plant or Spotted Laurel, is the quintessential Victorian evergreen that has graced British gardens for over 160 years. This female cultivar is renowned for producing the most spectacular golden variegation of all the spotted laurels, with leaves so heavily marked with bright yellow spots that they appear to shimmer with golden dust. When partnered with a male pollinator, it rewards gardeners with brilliant red berries that provide stunning winter colour, making it one of the most valuable evergreen shrubs for shaded locations.
Key Features
Foliage: Large, glossy leaves (12-20cm long) with rich dark green base colour dramatically splashed with bright golden-yellow spots, speckles, and patches. The variegation is exceptionally heavy and consistent, creating maximum visual impact.
Size: Reaches 2.5-4 metres in height and 2-3 metres in spread when mature, forming a substantial architectural presence in the garden.
Growth Rate: Moderate growth rate, typically adding 20-40cm per year once established, faster than many evergreen alternatives.
Flowers: Small, inconspicuous dark red-purple flowers appear in spring. As a female plant, these flowers will develop into berries when pollinated.
Berries: Produces abundant clusters of brilliant scarlet berries from autumn through winter when a male aucuba is planted nearby (within 30 metres). The berries are long-lasting and highly ornamental.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirements: Excels in partial to full shade. The golden variegation is most vibrant in bright shade but protected from direct sunlight. Morning sun is tolerated, but avoid harsh afternoon sun which can scorch the foliage and fade the variegation.
Soil: Extremely adaptable to soil conditions including heavy clay, chalk, and sandy soils. Prefers well-draining, fertile soil but tolerates poor conditions better than most evergreens. pH range 6.0-8.0.
Hardiness: Completely hardy throughout the UK (RHS hardiness rating H5), withstanding temperatures down to -20°C once established.
Moisture: Prefers consistently moist but well-drained soil. Shows excellent drought tolerance once established, making it ideal for difficult dry shade locations.
Planting and Care
Planting Time: Best planted in spring or early autumn, though container-grown plants can be planted year-round in suitable weather conditions.
Spacing: Allow 2-3 metres between plants for specimen planting, or 1.5-2 metres for informal hedging or screening.
Pollination: For berry production, plant a male aucuba (such as A. japonica male form) within 30 metres. One male plant can pollinate several females.
Watering: Water regularly during the first two growing seasons to establish a deep root system. Mature plants rarely require supplemental watering except during prolonged drought.
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring. An annual application of well-rotted compost or bark mulch around the base provides nutrients and conserves moisture.
Pruning: Prune in late spring after the last frost. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Can be pruned hard if renovation is needed, though this will temporarily reduce berry production.
Garden Uses
Specimen Planting: Makes a stunning focal point in shaded borders or woodland gardens where its golden variegation illuminates dark corners.
Architectural Features: Excellent for creating structure and year-round interest in formal and informal garden designs.
Screening: Creates an attractive evergreen screen or backdrop, particularly effective in shade where few other plants will thrive.
Victorian Gardens: Perfect for period garden restorations and traditional cottage garden schemes.
Problem Areas: Invaluable for difficult locations such as deep shade, dry shade beneath trees, or polluted urban environments.
Cut Foliage: The variegated leaves are excellent for flower arrangements and last well in water.
Historical Significance
Introduced to Britain from Japan in 1783, 'Variegata' became a symbol of Victorian garden sophistication. Originally grown as a conservatory plant, it proved remarkably hardy and became a staple of Victorian shrubberies and town gardens, where its tolerance of pollution and shade made it indispensable.
Companion Plants
The bold golden variegation pairs beautifully with purple-leaved plants such as heucheras and Japanese maples. Combines effectively with green-leaved shade plants like fatsia, mahonia, and skimmia. The winter berries complement red-stemmed dogwoods and bright yellow winter jasmine.
Seasonal Performance
Spring: Fresh new growth with the brightest variegation, small flowers appear.
Summer: Provides consistent golden colour and structure throughout the growing season.
Autumn: Berries begin to colour and ripen, foliage remains pristine.
Winter: Peak season with brilliant red berry clusters against golden-variegated evergreen foliage.
Why Choose Aucuba 'Variegata'?
This classic Victorian evergreen remains unmatched for bringing bright, cheerful colour to the garden's most challenging locations. Its exceptional shade tolerance, pollution resistance, and spectacular variegation make it invaluable for urban gardens, beneath trees, or any location where other plants struggle. The potential for abundant winter berries adds seasonal drama, whilst the historical significance brings authentic period character to traditional garden schemes. For gardeners seeking a reliable, low-maintenance evergreen that delivers maximum visual impact in difficult conditions, 'Variegata' remains the gold standard after more than a century and a half of proven garden performance.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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