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Alan J Hartley
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Tree Project.
Spotted Laurel – Aucuba Japonica.
Spotted Laurel, or
Aucuba Japonica is not really true Laurel which is the Laurus Nobilis,
or “Sweet Bay.” Indeed, neither is it related to any of the European
Laurels, one of which is “Cherry Laurel,” or (Prunus Laurocerasus.)
Although, this, as its name suggests, is actually a member of the Cherry
family.
The Aucuba is not really a tree, but a very large, multi stemmed bush
that can grow anything up to 40 feet. It is because of these potential
tree-like proportions that I have included it here amongst this list of
interesting trees. Spotted Laurel have very attractive variegated Leaves
that are a pale green mottled with golden splashes. They also produce
colourful berries, or red “Drupes,” but to be sure of having these you
will need both male and females plants close to each other and even then
of course you will only get berries on the female plants.
Coming from eastern Asia, including areas such as the eastern Himalayas
and China, Korea, and Japan, their name is a Latin version of the
Japanese name Aokiba. There are only a small number of Aucuba species.
Aucuba are very tough plants tenacious to life and very easy to grow
tolerating deep shade and dry conditions so that they will even grow
beneath trees. They do have a problem with very wet, cold winters though
that can cause blackening of their leaves, in particular, younger ones.
Being fairly slow growing and happy to be pruned to shape, they can make
good hedges, but need to be cut carefully with Secateurs as cutting with
Shears will cut their leaves and spoil their appearance. If you are
going to prune them it is best done in spring.
Propagation is fairly easy from cuttings that do take a few months to
root, but need no special conditions, or from self rooted, underground
runners, that established plants often throw up from time to time.
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