Aucuba japonica, commonly called spotted laurel, Japanese laurel, Japanese aucuba or gold dust plant, is a shrub native to rich forest soils of moist valleys, thickets, by streams and near shaded moist rocks in China, Korea, and Japan.
Aucuba is a slow-growing shrub with yellow speckled foliage or bright green glossy foliage depending on the cultivar, gold-dust plant adds a burst of color to deep shade. An evergreen shrub, gold-dust plant keeps its leaves year-round, providing color and texture when other plants go dormant for winter. Gold-dust plant is grown for its berries as well as its leaves. Female plants produce bright red berries in fall when a male pollinator is nearby. Aucuba japonica plant is valued for its ability to thrive in the most difficult of garden environments such as dry shade. It also copes with pollution and salt-laden coastal winds. This plant is a moderate grower, although faster growth can be accomplished with yearly fertilizing and regular watering until it reaches the desired size. Prune to any shape or size.
A gold dust plant is a great house plant or even a garden plant for those who are new to providing personal plant care. It is a slow-growing plant that needs to be kept out of direct sunlight but thrives both indoors and outdoors. It needs to be watered once or twice a great week for absent-minded plant owners and new gardeners.
The partial sun generally means less than six and more than four hours of sun per day. Plants for the partial sun will do well in a location where they receive a break from the sun each day. They like the sun but will not tolerate a full day of it and need at least some shade each day.
Universal fertilizer is a granular and mineral product intended for the fertilization of all types of garden cultivations. Its balanced content is suitable both for fruit trees, fruit bushes, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The even composition of individual elements makes the fertilizer universal.
Aucuba japonica plants are particularly good for use in cold, doughty positions; they can even withstand frost. But they cannot tolerate temperatures much above 23°C (73°F). In warm rooms should be provided a high degree of humidity. Stand pots on trays of moist pebbles in order to increase humidity.
