Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Aucubas
Aucuba japonica
A bushy, large, evergreen shrub, reaching around 10 feet, that is native to forests in Japan. Under ideal conditions, it can sometimes become a small tree, reaching a maximum size of 30 x 20 feet with great age. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet.
The toothed, oval leaves, up to 12 x 4 inches, are glossy deep green.
The tiny, greenish-purple flowers are borne in clusters up to 3 inches acorss. They are followed by oval, scarlet-red berries in fall and winter.
Hardy from zones 6 through 10 ( becomes deciduous at around -5 F ) in sun or shade on any moderately fertile, well drained soil. While they tolerate pollution, dry shade, alkaline and acidic soil but are not salt tolerant. Aucubas look especially spectacular planted under large Purple Beech and even thrive with the deep shade and intense root competition. They are very easy to grow and are virtually immune to insect pests and disease. In areas where deer are abundant, the Aucuba may need to be grown in a fenced in area or protected with netting during winter. Though pruning is not needed they can be cut back hard during early spring shortly before growth begins.
Propagation is from semi-ripe cuttings taken during summer.
* photo taken @ U.S. National Arboretum on Feb 2009
* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Garden, Bethesda, MD
* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour
* photos taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
* photo taken on May 4 2013 in Monkton, MD
Borealis
A slow growing, dwarf Aucuba reaching a maximum size of 4 x 4 ( rarely exceeding 2 ) feet, that is native to cool, moist coniferous forests in the snow belt region of the mountains of w. Honshu & Hokkaido, Japan.
The nearly smooth-edged, lance-shape leaves, up to 2.5 ( rarely 5 x 3 ) inches in size, are very glossy polished blue-green.
Very profuse scarlet-red berries contrasts well with the foliage.
Hardy north to 5b on protected sites.
* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
Crotonifolia
Bushy and rounded in habit; the large, oval leaves on this Aucuba are glossy deep green and boldly splashed with golden yellow.
* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Gold Dust ( Gold Dust Aucuba )
With few or no berries; this Aucuba has glossy dark green leaves heavily speckled with intense gold.
Best in part shade or shade; in full sun it can easily scorch.
* photos taken @ U.S. National Arboretum on Feb 2009
* photo taken in Bethesda, Maryland
* photo taken from 2005 installed landscape I designed in Clarksville, MD
* photo taken in Columbia, MD on Feb 2010
* photo taken on Feb 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photos taken on April 16 2012 in Columbia, MD
Limbeta
* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Garden, Bethesda, MD
Macrophylla
Broad leaves are glossy deep green.
Meigetsu
* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Garden, Bethesda, MD
Mr Goldstrike
A male form that is similar to Gold Dust but with foliage even more spectacularly splashed in yellow. It is slower growing, reaching no more than 6 x 6 feet.
* photos taken on Cot 31 2013 in Columbia, MD
Picturata
Foliage boldly splashed yellow in the center, otherwise similar.
* photo taken on Apr 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photo taken @ U.S. National Arboretum on Feb 2009
* photos taken on July 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD
Salicifolia ( Narrowleaf Aucuba )
WIth red berries during fall and winter; this female cultivar has vivid lush deep green leaves that are narrow and pointed.
* photos taken @ U.S. National Arboretum on Feb 2009
Variegata
* photo taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
Aucuba chinensis ( Chinese Aucuba )
Similar but larger growing ( reaching up to 27 feet or very rarely 40 feet ) and is native to China.
The foliage is matte-green rather than glossy above, bright green beneath.
It is less hardy, zones 8 to 10 only.
Aucuba omeiensis
It may only be a subspecies of Aucuba chinensis. A rare large shrub, reaching around 15 x 10 feet, that is native to central China.
The very large, thick, leatehry, deeply-cut, broadly-elliptical leaves, up to 12 inches in length, are bright green at first, turning to dull grayish-green.
The red fruit are up to 0.8 inches in length.
Hardy zones 8 to 10 ( tolerating 4 F ) in shade. Tolerates deep shade.
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