Rozannie Dwarf Aucuba (Japanese Laurel) – 3 Gallon Pot

When it comes to Aucuba, commonly known as Japanese Laurel, we gardeners often think of lush, bold and lustrous foliage that brings a look of the tropics to the landscape, rather than how nice the large red berries can be. Reason being, it’s the female plants that produce the berries and a male plant is usually needed as a pollinator. However, with ‘Rozannie’, both male and female flowers are present. This makes her a self-fertile variety that will freely produce abundant clusters of large red berries on her own. From clusters of small reddish-purple flowers that appear in spring, Rozannie produces unusually large red berries that stand out remarkably well against shiny, leathery, sword-shaped, evergreen leaves. Since the birds, deer and other animals don’t feed on the berries, they often last through the winter months. At 4 feet tall and maybe a little wider when all grown up, Rozannie is a good fit in smaller spaces and home foundation plantings, and also makes a fine, natural evergreen hedge or grouping in deep shade to part shade. Keep in mind she doesn’t like the afternoon sun, which can cause scald her leaves. Hardy in landscapes as far north as USDA 6, where temperatures can drop -10F, and also as far South as Miami! Also excellent for containers that can be situated outdoors or indoors as a year-round houseplant.

Growing in a dense mound to around 4 feet tall and wide, and thriving in dense shade to part shade, the Rozannie Dwarf Aucuba is ideal for use as a specimen in smaller garden spaces and containers, or in groupings, or as a grouping or natural hedge in shady landscape borders and home foundation plantings, under the canopies of large shade trees, and in other shady areas. A fine addition to the tropical look garden, Asian theme garden, perennial shade garden, and rock garden. You can also grow this beauty year-round indoors as a houseplant!

Aucuba are very easy to grow and care for. They thrive in most any damp to moist but well-drained soil and full shade to part shade. Morning and evening sun is okay but avoid the direct afternoon sun, which can scald the leaves. As with so many other ornamental shrubs, Aucuba does not like constantly soggy or wet soils. Moderate drought tolerance when established. No need for pruning other than to snip off a stray stem that is spoiling the shape of the shrub.

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Aucuba.

Questions? Contact Us!