Free Aucuba Japonica 'Variegata' Plants

The Aucuba is a good example of an indoor/outdoor plant. It can be grown for two to three years inside before it becomes too large and unmanageable as a houseplant, and then planted outside in the garden. If the plant is to be taken outside during the autumn and winter months, it may first need to be hardened off. If possible, it is better to move it outside in the spring or summer when there is little or no danger offrosts. As an indoor plant the Aucuba is a fairly tough subject which can tolerate fairly cool and draughty positions such as beside front or back doors or in porches. The attractive, variegated foliage makes it suitable for display either on its own or as part of a mixed grouping.

Plant type : Foliage plant with loose, bushy, erect habit
Season of interest : All year round
Size : 50-100cm (20—39in)
Flower : Small, uninteresting, purple-red, produced in summer; occasionally followed by red berries
Leaf : Glossy green, oval leaves, 7.5-15cm (3-6in) long, 5-7.5cm (2-3in) wide, with uneven yellow spots
Temperature : 10-20°C (50-68T) indoors, but will tolerate frost
Aspect/Light : Moderate to reasonably bright light
Humidity : Moderate
Watering : Evenly moisten compost in spring and summer; keep drier in autumn and winter
Feeding : Once every four weeks with houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer
Propagation : Plant tip cuttings, 10-12.5cm (4—5in), at 20°C (68”F) in mid spring to early summer in seed and cutting compost
Potting : Houseplant potting compost
Problems : Relatively trouble free
Availability : Occasionally available as houseplant throughout year
Uses indoors : Useful plant for position that can suffer draughts, such as close to front door or possibly in a porch
Other varieties : A. j. ‘Crotonifolia' - yellow-cream with white blotches