{"title":"Aucuba","description":"\u003cp\u003eAucuba (which is spelled by some as Acuba) is a genus that traditionally held 3 species (\u003cem\u003eAucuba japonica\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAucuba chinensis\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eAucuba himalaica\u003c\/em\u003e) but which has recently been expanded to 10 species. Aucubas are shrubs or small trees native to Asia from the Himalayas in the west, through China and into Japan and South Korea. The name aucuba is an anglicization of the Japanese word 'aoki' which means 'blue tree'. Originally used as medicinal plants, aucubas are now primarily grown as ornamental plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAucuba is popular because of its large shiny evergreen leaves, which are often variegated, and its bright red berries which are only present on female plants if there is a male aucuba in the vicinity (except for a few cultivars like 'Rozannie' which has both male and female parts in every flower). Some of the popular cultivars are always female ('Crotonifolia', 'Gold Dust', 'Hillieri', 'Picturata', 'Salicifolia', 'Serratifolia', 'Sulphur', 'Sulphurea Marginata', 'Variegata'), or always male ('Mister Goldstrike', 'Crassifolia', 'Golden King', 'Lance Leaf') and some may be either sex. The only way to tell a male aucuba from a female one is to observe the small purple flowers. Flowers held close to the stem are female and flowers on an erect flower stalk and with four little yellow anthers are male.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing and Caring for Aucuba Plants\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAucuba is generally a carefree plant. It prefers part-shade, regular watering, and a well-drained soil. Once established, aucuba plants are fairly drought tolerant. However, aucubas that are in too much sun or experience severe drought will display black leaf splotches. Aucuba is one of the few plants that tolerates deep shade well. Our goal is to propagate several of the wonderful, but lesser known and rarely available special aucuba cultivars. When you are ready to buy an aucuba for your perennial garden, we hope you'll check out our list of aucuba for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCheck out \u003ca title=\"Tony's aucuba blog posts\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.jlbg.org\/tag\/aucuba\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTony's aucuba blog posts\u003c\/a\u003e to see pics of some of our own aucuba plants growing at the \u003ca title=\"Juniper Level Botanic Garden\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jlbg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJuniper Level Botanic Garden\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"aucuba-japonica-limbata","title":"Aucuba japonica Limbata","description":"\u003cp\u003e(aka: Aucuba 'Sulphurea Marginata') Aucuba japonica 'Limbata' isn't a new plant, since it was first introduced in 1864, but it has remained quite rare and expensive since it grows and propagates so slowly. This beautiful 4' tall x 4' wide aucuba has dark, evergreen, deeply toothed leaves, each surrounded by a wide yellow border that brightens to white as the leaves age. Aucuba 'Limbata' is a female clone, so if you have a male nearby, your plant will be laden with lovely red fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":20999951749,"sku":"33","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aucuba-japonica-Limbata.i-33.s-66178.r-1_3a619207-90c6-4e9f-afc8-8d8959c1e0ef.jpg?v=1788374288"},{"product_id":"aucuba-japonica-lemon-flare","title":"Aucuba japonica Lemon Flare","description":"\u003cp\u003e(Aucuba J06-2) Aucuba japonica 'Lemon Flare' is a Hawksridge Nursery selection that we are pleased to bring to market as a Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction for the first time in 2015. Aucuba japonica 'Lemon Flare' is a male selection and makes a compact 4' tall x 4' wide evergreen shrub, clothed with densely yellow-spotted 6.5\" long x 1.5\" wide green leaves. When the new growth emerges in late spring, Aucuba 'Lemon Flare' seems to glow like a lightning bug.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21001058949,"sku":"1388","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aucuba-japonica-Lemon-Flare.i-1388.s-64186.r-1_4103a94a-d6f4-49d4-a566-eece4395cc57.jpg?v=1791558389"},{"product_id":"aucuba-japonica-natsu-no-kumo","title":"Aucuba japonica Natsu no Kumo","description":"\u003cp\u003e(PP 14,744 expired) Aucuba japonica 'Natsu-no-Kumo' was discovered in Japan by Seiju Yamaguchi. Aucuba japonica 'Natsu-no-Kumo' makes a 6' tall shrub clothed with broad, evergreen, toothed leaves which emerge creamy white in spring...a stunning contrast against the older dark green leaves. As the season goes on, the new leaf color eventually fades to all green. Aucuba 'Natsu-no-Kumo' is a female selection that will develop bright red berries in the fall. Special thanks to Hines Nurseries for allowing us to offer these.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21024855621,"sku":"2736","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aucuba-japonica-Natsu-no-Kumo.i-2736.s-63609.r-1_df99860c-f68f-4b4e-8f24-cad9d1df1fa8.jpg?v=1790263678"},{"product_id":"aucuba-japonica-suruga-benten","title":"Aucuba japonica Suruga Benten","description":"\u003cp\u003eAucuba japonica 'Suruga Benten' is an old but rarely seen Japanese selection that is one of the most stunning clones we've grown. Aucuba 'Suruga Benten' forms a 4' tall x 4' wide specimen, clothed with 5\" long x 3\" wide, very serrated leaves with irregular green blotches on a leaf background that's screaming yellow. The new foliage is almost a pure yellow-cream. Aucuba 'Suruga Benten' is a female clone.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21029526661,"sku":"9715","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aucuba-japonica-Suruga-Benten.i-9715.s-65943.r-1_75297982-3195-42bb-be46-64748c4897bb.jpg?v=1788355691"},{"product_id":"aucuba-japonica-ooba-nakafu","title":"Aucuba japonica Ooba Nakafu","description":"\u003cp\u003eAucuba japonica 'Ooba Nakafu' is one of the most highly prized of the Japanese laurel selections. This amazing plant makes a stunning 5' tall specimen, clothed in large green leaves, each overlain with a large brilliant yellow pattern in the center. This is one of the most stable variegated aucubas we've grown.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":22564419909,"sku":"3134","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aucuba-japonica-Ooba-Nakafu.i-3134.s-64809.r-1_c5c6a83b-adfe-43e9-a825-3fadd982d922.jpg?v=1790263948"},{"product_id":"aucuba-japonica-katoaba","title":"Aucuba japonica Katoaba","description":"\u003cp\u003eAucuba japonica 'Katoaba' is a lovely, but little-known Japanese female selection of aucuba. Maturing at 5' tall x 4' wide, the green leaves are adorned both with hundreds of small yellow freckles, and topped with a wide, stunning yellow central pattern. If you have a willing male clone nearby, you'll be rewarded with plump red fruit in early spring. Aucubas are fabulous broadleaf evergreen shrubs for dry\/well-drained shade.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWatch our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_3t02O8gGn8?si=5e8fm8qJFCUFrtwX\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePlant Spotlight\u003c\/a\u003e video for more information.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41175694344279,"sku":"16877","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aucuba-japonica-Katoaba.i-16877.s-67734.r-1_b9a8485e-ae58-4c43-b58c-e1b820ec882a.jpg?v=1788374194"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Aucuba-japonica-Ogon-no-Tsuki-1900x350.jpg?v=1679488771","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/aucuba.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}