Aucuba Japonica

''Aucuba japonica'', commonly called spotted laurel, Japanese laurel, Japanese aucuba or gold dust plant (U.S.), is a shrub () native to rich forest soils of moist valleys, thickets, by streams and near shaded moist rocks in China, Korea, and Japan.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> This is the species of ''Aucuba'' commonly seen in gardens - often in variegated form. The leaves are opposite, broad lanceolate, long and wide. ''Aucuba japonica'' are dioecious. The flowers are small, diameter, each with four purplish-brown petals; they are produced in clusters of 10-30 in a loose cyme. The fruit is a red drupe approximately in diameter that is avoided by birds.

The variegation, considered by some to be an attractive property, is caused by 'Aucuba bacilliform', a putative species of virus in the genus ''Badnavirus.

History

''Aucuba japonica'' was introduced into England in 1783 by Philip Miller's pupil John Graeffer, at first as a plant for a heated greenhouse. It became widely cultivated as the "gold plant" by 19th-century gardeners. The plants being grown were female, and it was a purpose of Robert Fortune's botanizing trip to newly opened Japan in 1861 to locate a male. It was located in the garden of Dr. Hall, resident at Yokohama, and sent to the nursery of Standish & Noble at Bagshot, Surrey. The firm's mother plant was fertilized and displayed, covered with red berries, at Kensington in 1864, creating a sensation that climaxed in 1891 with the statement from the Royal Horticultural Society's secretary, the Rev. W. Wilkes, "You can hardly have too much of it". A reaction to its ubiquitous presence set in after World War II.

Cultivation

This plant is valued for its ability to thrive in the most difficult of garden environments, dry shade. It also copes with pollution and salt-laden coastal winds. It is often seen as an informal hedge, but may also be grown indoors as a houseplant. Today numerous cultivars are available from garden centres. The most popular cultivar is 'Variegata', with yellow spots on the leaves; this is a female clone, a similar male clone being named 'Maculata'. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

* 'Crotonifolia'
* 'Golden King'
* 'Rozannie' – A self-fertile variety not requiring a pollinator, produces deep red berries against solid green, glossy foliage.

Other cultivars include:-
* forma ''longifolia''
* 'Mr. Goldstrike' – Male plant with leaves heavily speckled in yellow.
* 'Picturata' – Female plant with yellow foliage fringed with green.
* 'Petite Jade' – Variety with narrower leaves than other species, slender, and serrated. Solid green, growing to 6 ft. tall (can reach 10 ft. after 20 or more years).
* 'February Star' – Female plant with narrow leaves and sparse dots of variegation.

Etymology

''Japonica'' means 'from Japan'.Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). p 220

Gallery

File:WitteHeinrichFlora1868-003-Aucuba japonica.png, Painting by Dutch artist A.J. Wendel, 1868
File:Aucuba japonica MHNT.BOT.2007.40.91.jpg, MHNT
File:ヒメアオキ雌花.JPG, Flowers on female
File:ヒメアオキ_Aucuba_japonica_var._borealis.JPG, Flowers on male
File:Garryaceae - Aucuba japonica.JPG, Fruits
File:Green and yellow plant.JPG, Leaves
Image:Spottedlaurelfemale.JPG, Female clone ''Variegata''
File:Spottedlaurelmale.JPG, Male

References

External links

BBC Gardening ''Aucuba japonica''

{{Taxonbar, from=Q163114

Garryales
Flora of China
Flora of Eastern Asia
Least concern plants
Garden plants
Plants described in 1783