Image 1 of 2

Aucuba japonica var. borealis cuttings just potted

Aucuba japonica var. borealis – This is the hardiest of all among the growing list of Japanese Aucuba cultivars. It’s a beauty with a display of rich, glossy dark green foliage on a mounding and compact plant. Leaves are smaller and narrower than many of the available selections. It survived the hard USDA zone 5b winter of 2009 planted in a sheltered spot along the north foundation of our home. We had abundant snowfall but very many cold days and nights with at least 3 nights bottoming-out in the lower minus teens. When the snow melted it looked perfect. Only after the seemingly endless rains that followed well into July that very odd year did several branches blacken presumably from too wet conditions. But in the following December at the time of this writing the remainder of the shrub is unscathed and looks beautiful. Under cover of snow in the hard winter of 2011 also with several nights down to minus 10F and lower it emerged from the melting snow with out a single damaged blade, as fresh and green as it had looked the previous autumn. One important point: this particular variety appears to especially abhor too much water. Too constantly wet conditions are an anathema to its well being. We have yet to attempt it in the more open shade garden. Aucuba japonica var. borealis is a female form. This amazing cold hardy form may grow larger farther south... but why would southern gardeners want this form with so many spectacular cultivars available to you? Northern gardeners really should consider attempting this broadleaf evergreen.