Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Garryaceae

Genus:

Aucuba

Species:

Aucuba japonica

USDA Symbol:

AUJA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

mar,apr

Bloom Colors:

purple, maroon

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Prefers shaded areas in native forests

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate erratically and may take several months. Fresh seed germinates better than dried seed.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI