A relative of the flowering dogwood , the aucuba shrub ( Aucuba spp . ) is also know as Japanese laurel . There are no more than four species of aucuba , all aboriginal to eastern Asia , that are raise for their glossy leaves that often endure markings of contrasting colors . Great for shadowed , dry and salty - publicize parts of the landscape painting as an accent , screen or hedging , the female aucuba shrubs produce red berries that look like those of a Buddy Holly . Most aucuba shrubs sold at plant greenhouse are the species Aucuba japonica .
Light Requirements
The amount of direct sunlight tolerated by aucuba bush depends on your climate . In cool summer area , bright nicety for no more than eight hours of sun day by day is o.k. . Conversely , where summers are very hot or long , undimmed shade with collateral luminousness is recommend for no more than four hours of unmediated sunshine . Also , plants with variegated leaves should not experience as much direct sunlight as those with hearty green foliage . If grown as an indoor houseplant , place the container where very shiny indirect light and one to two hours of dawning or eve sunshine reach the foliage .
Soil Characteristics
plant life aucuba plants in any grunge that is not soggy or waterlogged after irrigation or rain . large-minded of ironical soils and those that are well sandy , the bush will reckon and grow well if the soil is fertile and hold constituent matter . star sign plant container must not be filled with surface soil but with soil - less potting media .
Watering Regimen
During the growing time of year , water aucuba freely so the soil continue moist , but never soggy . During the winter months when temperatures are cooler and growth stops , allow soils to become desiccant and do not over - water . When plant are first planted in the ground , water frequently to keep the etymon ball moist and to help instal new origin in the environ soil . Newly planted shrubs should be supervise and water as needed to maintain a moist land at all times for the first six to twelve months . Indoor plants need a slightly moist soil ; abstain from over - watering .
Fertilization Needs
From mid - bound to former summertime , apply a water soluble well - balanced fertilizer to the shrub once each calendar month . Alternatively , scatter a boring - passing granular fertilizer around the radical zone of the aucuba to easy release nutrients for several months . Applying a 3 to 4 - in stratum of constituent mulch over the source zona in the outdoor garden help improve soil quality and also decomposes to supply nutrient for use by the plant life theme . Do not fertilize in fall or wintertime months .
Pruning Considerations
Typically aucuba shrubs need minimum pruning , but an casual errant branch may guarantee remotion . cut back away any all in or diseased leaves or branch at any time of year . To fleece or shape the shrub , it is near to conduct that pruning task in early spring . If you wish to rejuvenate a shrub that is overgrown , leggy or poorly structured , snip back the plant to 12 to 24 - inches grandiloquent in mid - spring and allow it to grow unimpeded across the summer .
Climate Limitations
Aucuba bush allow climates and indoor develop conditions that are no colder than -10 degrees F in winter and where summers provide at least 40 days of temperatures above 86 arcdegree F. This correlate to U.S. Department of Agriculture wintertime hardiness zones 6 through 10 and American Horticultural Society heat energy - zone 12 to 6 . Aucuba shrubs in USDA zones 6 and 7 should be harbour from winter winds and dry unmediated wintertime sun rays .
