Aucuba japonica 'Gold Dust' (Variegated Aucuba)

''Gold Dust' is a female cultivar of Aucuba japonica, also known as Japanese laurel or simply aucuba, a showy evergreen shrub that grows well in partial to full shade. Similiar to the 'Variegata' cultivar, 'Gold Dust' grows to 4-6' tall and wide, and is noted for its production of long, shiny green leaves speckled liberally with attractive, bright golden yellow spots. Though there is some confusion about the differences between 'Gold Dust' and 'Variegata,' our 'Gold Dust' specimens seems even splashier and more golden than their 'Variegata' counterparts.

Beyond their splashy foliage, Aucuba japonica produces inconspicuous red-purple flowers along its branches in the early to mid-spring, and when successfully pollinated, these flowers turn to bright red berries in the late fall. As a female cultivar, 'Gold Dust' will require a male pollinating partner like the 'Golden King' or 'Maculata' cultivars for successful berry production. As a shady, ornamental evergreen, Aucuba japonica 'Gold Dust' makes an excellent addition to shaded beds and woodland gardens, and is a superb choice as a foundation plant due to its dense evergreen foliage, medium height, and ability to thrive in the shade of a large structure or other plants. This Japanese laurel cultivar is also tolerant of salt and drought, and is winter tolerant to Zone 6b, adding the benefit of hardiness to its striking foliage.