About

Aucuba japonica 'Leucocarpa' is a compact evergreen shrub featuring dark green, glossy foliage. This female cultivar bears clusters of small, trailing flowers in a chocolate-purple hue during the spring. Once established, it will also produce an abundance of white berries, especially when a male plant is nearby to facilitate 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, 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

5-10 years

Suggested uses

Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden

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