Aucuba japonica 'Gold Dust'

Gold Dust aucuba

Garryaceae

Key Features

Drought Tolerant

Container Friendly

Maintenancevery low

Overview

Aucuba japonica 'Gold Dust' is a standout broadleaf evergreen shrub that brings light and texture to the shadiest corners of Pacific Northwest gardens. This female cultivar features glossy, dark green leaves generously speckled with vibrant yellow variegation, creating the impression of sunlight dappling through a forest canopy even in deeply shaded locations. Particularly valued for its ability to thrive beneath the mature conifer canopies common throughout the region, 'Gold Dust' maintains its bright appearance year-round where few other ornamental shrubs succeed. In autumn, bright red berries appear when a male pollinator is present, creating striking contrast against the variegated foliage during the Northwest's gray winter months. The plant's exceptional tolerance of challenging conditions—including dry shade, poor soil, and urban pollution—has made it a mainstay in regional landscapes for generations. Whether used in woodland gardens, foundation plantings, or mixed shrub borders, 'Gold Dust' provides reliable structure and color throughout western Washington and Oregon, brightening the shade with minimal maintenance requirements and consistent year-round performance.

How to Identify

Aucuba japonica 'Gold Dust' can be readily identified by its large, glossy, leathery evergreen leaves liberally speckled with bright yellow variegation against a dark green background, creating the distinctive gold-dusted appearance that inspired its name. Each leaf is ovate to elliptical in shape, measuring 4-8 inches long and 2-4 inches wide, with coarsely serrated margins primarily in the upper half while the lower portion remains relatively smooth. The yellow speckling is distributed across the entire leaf surface in an irregular pattern, with each leaf displaying a unique arrangement of bright golden flecks. Leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along stout stems, clustering predominantly near branch tips. 'Gold Dust' is a female cultivar that produces small, inconspicuous purplish-brown flowers in spring, followed by bright red oval berries approximately 1/2 inch long in fall when a male pollinator is present. These glossy fruits persist through winter, creating striking contrast against the variegated foliage. This cultivar can be distinguished from other Aucuba varieties by its specific speckling pattern; 'Crotonifolia' typically has larger yellow blotches, 'Picturata' features a central yellow splash, and the species form lacks variegation entirely. The combination of large, coarsely toothed leaves with consistent yellow speckling distributed across the entire leaf surface is distinctive to 'Gold Dust'.

Appearance

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow

Bloom Information

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Shade

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

Drainage

dry

Water & Climate

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Pruning

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing