About
Aucuba japonica 'Golden Girl' is a compact evergreen shrub, typically reaching heights of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet), and exhibits a rounded growth habit. Its leaves are a vibrant green, featuring toothed edges and prominent gold spots and blotches. As a female variety, it produces small purple flowers in the spring. For the formation of its characteristic clusters of bright red, oval berries, it requires the presence of a nearby male aucuba for pollination.
About the genus
Aucuba are dioecious evergreen shrubs characterized by simple, leathery foliage, with numerous cultivars showcasing attractive variegation. Male plants produce small purple flowers, while female specimens bear large, glossy red berries afterward.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
- Toxicity
- Fruit is ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Fruit is ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Will grow in almost any soil or situation except soil prone to waterlogging, tolerating full shade, dry soil, pollution and salt wind
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1; trim hedges in spring; shrubs may be renovated by hard pruning in spring
- Propagation
- Propagate by taking semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to autumn
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus