Common Name: 'Gold Dust' Aucuba aka Gold Dust Spotted Laurel
Latin Name: Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’
Turn deep shade into a spotlight. Aucuba ‘Variegata’ is a broadleaf evergreen with glossy dark green leaves splattered in bright yellow “gold dust.” Dense, durable, and delightfully low-maintenance, it brings year-round color to beds, borders, and containers where many shrubs struggle.
Key Features
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Showy foliage: bold yellow-flecked leaves for four-season interest
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Shade specialist: thrives where sun-lovers won’t (great for north/east exposures)
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Evergreen & deer tolerant: reliable structure and color, even in winter
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Bird-friendly berries: female plants can produce red berries if a male aucuba is nearby
- Great for beds, borders, and containers
Note: Aucuba is poisonous if ingested—keep away from children and pets.
Care Tips
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Light: Part shade to full shade (protect from hot afternoon sun)
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Water: Average; keep evenly moist while establishing, then water during dry spells
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Soil: Well-drained, humus-rich; tolerates clay if drainage is improved
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pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (approx. 6.0–7.0)
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Pruning: Light shape-up in late winter/early spring; remove any all-green reverting shoots
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Placement: Provide shelter from drying winter winds for best leaf quality
Landscape Uses
- Foundation plantings & shady borders
- Woodland gardens and underplanting beneath trees
- Bright foliage accent in containers (porch/patio shade)
- Hedging or low screening in dappled light
Details
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Category: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
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Hardiness: USDA Zones 7–9
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Mature Size: 4–6 ft tall × 4–6 ft wide
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Foliage: Dark green with yellow speckles; glossy, leathery texture
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Flowers/Fruit: Small greenish flowers; female plants may set red berries with a male pollinator nearby
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Growth Rate: Moderate; generally slower than the species
Design tip: Pair with deep greens (hellebores), fine textures (ornamental grasses), and cool blues (hosta) to make those gold flecks pop in the shade.
