AUCUBA JAP. GOLDEN KING CLT 10

Aucuba japonica ‘Golden King’ is a reliable, shade-loving evergreen shrub valued for its bold, glossy variegated foliage splashed with golden-yellow. Ideal for brightening shaded borders, woodland-style planting and north- or east-facing sites in Ireland, it forms a dense, low-maintenance backdrop and can be used for informal screening. Small, inconspicuous purple spring flowers may appear, but the main appeal is the year-round foliage. Prefers moist but well-drained soil and is notably tolerant of dry shade once established; suits a wide range of soils. Ultimately reaches around 2–3m in height and spread over time in Irish gardens, with a slow to moderate growth rate, and is fully hardy.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial to full shade

Rate of Growth: Slow to moderate

Soil: Moist but well-drained; tolerates dry shade; most soils including clay or chalk

Hardiness: Fully hardy (RHS H5)

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Plant at a Glance