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Golden King Aucuba foliage

Golden King Aucuba foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Spotted Laurel, Japanese Laurel

Description:

A spectacular evergreen that solves the problem of the most shaded garden with wonderful contrasting foliage; ideal as a dense screen; drought tolerant once established; protect from cold winter winds

Ornamental Features

Golden King Aucuba has attractive gold-variegated dark green foliage with hints of creamy white which emerges chartreuse in spring on a plant with a round habit of growth. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Golden King Aucuba is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Golden King Aucuba is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Golden King Aucuba will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.