Aucubas
ExplorePlants
Aucubas
aucuba
Aucubas are beautiful plants with glossy leaves that can brighten up any garden. They produce colorful berries that attract birds and other wildlife!
Habitat: Aucubas typically grow in wooded areas and gardens.
Appearance
The Aucubas has shiny, leathery leaves, often dark green or beautifully variegated with yellow spots and splashes. It produces small, inconspicuous reddish-purple flowers followed by bright red, berry-like fruits that add winter color.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaGenusAucuba
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Wow! Aucuba berries are usually bright red and can last all winter long!
Wow! Aucuba is sometimes called 'Spotted Laurel' because of its unique leaf patterns!
Wow! Its glossy leaves look like they've been polished every single day!
Wow! Some Aucuba plants are male and others are female – only females grow berries!
Special abilities
Ability
Shade Master
Aucubas has adapted leaves that help it absorb light efficiently, allowing it to thrive in deep shade where many plants cannot survive.
Ability
Winter Berry Bling
Its vibrant red berries persist through winter, providing a splash of color and a food source for birds when other plants are bare.
Ability
Tough as Nails
Aucubas possesses strong roots and resilience, enabling it to withstand various soil types and challenging urban environments.
Ability
Spotty Signal
The unique yellow spots on some Aucuba leaves might deter hungry animals, acting as a visual warning or camouflage.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 100-300 cm
- Spread
- 100-250 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eaten by
Blackbird
Turdus merula
Blackbirds eat its red berries, helping the plant spread its seeds.
pollinates
Common blowfly
Calliphora vicina
Tiny flies are attracted to the small flowers, assisting with pollination.
symbiotic with
Humans
Homo sapiens
Humans plant Aucubas for their beauty and hardiness in gardens.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
Aucuba Japonica
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Aucubas?
100-300 cm
How wide does Aucubas spread?
100-250 cm
How big are the flowers on Aucubas?
0.5-1 cm
When does Aucubas bloom?
Spring
Is Aucubas edible?
No
Is Aucubas toxic?
Mild
What is Aucubas's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Aucubas pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
Where to spot
Park115 sightings7 species
New York, US
Sara D. Roosevelt Park
You might spot House Sparrow, Paulownia, and Rock Pigeon.
View guide →
Park108 sightings5 species
Virginia, US
Raglan Road Park
You might spot Pinkladies, Hickories, and Japanese Aucuba.
View guide →
Park7 sightings1 species
Virginia, US
Poburn Woods Park
You might spot Deertongue, Cabbages and Mustards, and Southern Magnolia.
View guide →
