AUCUBA JAP. GOLDEN KING CLT 10

Aucuba japonica Golden King is a reliable, shade-loving evergreen shrub valued for its bold, glossy variegated foliage splashed with golden-yellow. Ideal for brightening shaded borders, woodland-style planting and north- or east-facing sites in Ireland, it forms a dense, low-maintenance backdrop and can be used for informal screening. Small, inconspicuous purple spring flowers may appear, but the main appeal is the year-round foliage. Prefers moist but well-drained soil and is notably tolerant of dry shade once established; suits a wide range of soils. Ultimately reaches around 23m in height and spread over time in Irish gardens, with a slow to moderate growth rate, and is fully hardy.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position:Partial to full shadeRate of Growth:Slow to moderateSoil:Moist but well-drained; tolerates dry shade; most soils including clay or chalkHardiness:Fully hardy (RHS H5)JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Plant at a Glance

leafcolour:variegated
foliage:evergreen
light:shade
light:light-shade
facing:north
facing:east
soiltype:moderate-fertile
soiltype:heavy-clay
soiltype:light-sandy
soiltype:chalky
soilmoisture:normal
flowering:april
flowercolour:purple
size:2m-5m
specialconditions:dry-shade