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New England Gardening

Japanese Aucuba Anyone?

17 years ago

Is anyone in the warmer parts of Southern New England growing Japanese Aucuba? I just purchased one at Sylvan's last week and planted it yesterday in an area that receives little or no sun. It is supposedly hardy to zone 6b (0 to -5). It adds a real splash of color and a different texture to an otherwise "green" space in my small garden. I will protect it like my first born child next winter and see what happens.

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Comments (5)

diggingthedirt
17 years ago
I have the solid green; they do very well here on Cape Cod. Occasionally there'll be die-back of fairly big sections, and I don't know what causes that.

I tried a variegated one, but it didn't make it through its first winter - it may have been one of those bad winters a couple of years ago. It was a *great* plant - I'll get another if I come across it.

They do like deep shade and plenty of moisture while they're getting established.
ego45
17 years ago
Same experience as Nan's.
Variegated (yellow splashed) died after the first winter, though it was abnormal year (remember sudden drop from 40's to 10's in a January'04?)
But...against all odds someone in our town planted 15' long hedge of it(variegated) in a year around (!!!) full sun (!!!) and while from time to time I see holes in that hedge after the winter, by the end of the summer it's again full and lucsious again.
Talking about 'against all odds', the one and only constantly blooming Hydrangea villosa aspera in my area had been planted in Westerly exposure, while all other villosas (protected or not) blooms only 1 year out of 3 and never could attain the size they suppose to be without diebacks.
'Wrong' H.villosa (7'+ tall)
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rockman50
Original Author
17 years ago
Hmm. Mine is the variagated variety. It is called "Gold Dust" I will post a pic soon. And it sounds like I better protect it! It is in a shady site on the north side of my house. But that exposes it to cold N winds in winter.
diggingthedirt
17 years ago
Yes, gold dust is really nice. Mine may just have died from not being watered enough going into winter - I sometimes travel for extended periods in fall, and new transplants pay the price.

Next time I buy it, I'll start many cuttings as soon as it's planted. Aucuba roots like a willow, a real snap. My green ones are all from cuttings my sister gave me - they made the trek up from New York sitting on the back seat of her car, no protection needed, not even a plastic bag or wet newspaper. Stuck them in the ground and forgot about them, per her instructions, and they all rooted.

Forestfarm has tubes of gold dust at $8 per plant; I'm sorely tempted.
JMLehrer
17 years ago
Wayne at Quackin' Grass Nursery in Brooklyn, CT has numerous clones of Aucuba japonica, including the rare, hardiest form from the Korean snow line called A. japonica var. borealis. This plant is probably half a zone hardier than normal green types!! The nursery is a treasure trove of plants with wonderful display gardens, as well. Worth a trip!

Here is a link that might be useful: Quackin' Grass Nursery Homepage

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