- Botanical name: Aucuba japonica 'Picturata'
- Common name: Spotted laurel
- Family: Garryaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub, Evergreen
Variegation
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’ is a dense, bushy evergreen shrub, highly valued for its variegated green and yellow foliage. Small purple-red flowers appear in spring, followed by bright red berries.
Like all aucuba varieties, Aucuba japonica ‘Picturata’ will grow in shade, although its gold-blotched and finely-speckled leaves colour best in full sun. It thrives in most soils, including dry ground near hedges and trees. Shrubs may be strictly pruned as hedges, left to grow unchecked, or lightly trimmed to shape once annually, always using secateurs to avoid cutting the large leaves.
Read our full guide to growing aucuba.
How to grow Aucuba 'Picturata'
-
Plant size
2.5m height
2.5m spread
-
Aspect
North facing, south facing, east facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full shade, full sun, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do Prune in April |
M
Do Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Aucuba 'Picturata' and wildlife
Aucuba 'Picturata' has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Aucuba 'Picturata' poisonous?
Aucuba 'Picturata' can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock
Plants that go well with Aucuba 'Picturata'
