Spotted laurel, in the Garryaceae (silk tassel) family, is a woody, broadleaf, evergreen shrub with variegated leaves. It is native to East Asia and Japan, but has become well adapted to the North Carolina environment. It can be found in moist woodland areas, thickets, valleys, and along streams. Partial shade to deep shade is the best growing environment. Young leaves exposed to the sun will blacken. Soil conditions should be loamy clay, sand, or high organic matter. The soil needs to have good drainage, moist to occasionally dry or wet conditions. The plant will tolerate poor soils and urban conditions like air pollution. The foliage is susceptible to windburn so plant in a protected area. Plant 3 to 6 feet apart. It is propagated by seed or stem cutting. The flowers bloom on new wood; therefore, pruning, if needed, may be done in late winter and early spring. Plants in this genus are dioecious meaning they have male and female flowers on separate plants. If planted near each other, the female plants will produce showy red fruits in the winter providing year-round interest. Spotted laurel can be grown in containers around the patio or in recreational play areas. It does well in children's gardens, shade, and winter gardens. It can be used as a hedge or privacy screening. In temperate climates it is grown as a houseplant and requires cool room temperatures of 50 to 65 degrees F. ‘Dwarf Green’ is a cultivar with deep green leaves that give a tropical appearance. Smaller growing, it will mature to a compact height and width of up to 4'. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Wet soils or poor drainage can lead to root rot. Planting in locations with freezing temperatures can lead to winter dieback. Young foliage should be protected from direct afternoon sunlight in southern locations. Insects problems include nematodes, mealybugs and scale. More information on Aucuba japonica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Solid green leaves.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower detail
The tiny maroon flowers appear on female plants.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Long-lasting
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The small berries ripen in the fall and will last through the winter months into the spring.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
East Asia and Japan.
Play value
Colorful; Easy to Grow; Textural
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used as an accent or specimen plant.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio; Small Space; Woodland