Spotted Laurel
Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'
Spotted Laurel is a shrub for structure, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 200 cm |
| Spread | 200 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 6b-10a, RHS H5 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 200 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 200 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 6b to 10a and rated H5 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, sandy soil, chalk soil, evergreen plants.
Border Builder uses Spotted Laurel's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Black mondo grassto edge in front
- Coral bells 'Fire Alarm'to edge in front
- David Viburnumto edge in front
- Heucherato edge in front
- Japanese Araliafor height behind it
- Lily Turfto edge in front