Aucuba sp. (himalayica?)

This is one of the quiet mysteries of the Woodlanders collection, a narrow-leaved evergreen aucuba received years ago from the U.S. National Arboretum under the name Aucuba himalayica, and quite possibly the slender japonica form known as 'Longifolia' instead. Either way the plant is a striking departure from the usual aucuba, trading broad, spotted leaves for long, willow-like, finely serrated blades of glossy dark green. Woodlanders has not seen this aucuba offered anywhere else, which makes the plant a true collector's piece whatever the correct name proves to be.

The uncertainty is real and worth telling honestly. A genuine Himalayan species, Aucuba himalaica, does exist, distinguished from the Japanese aucuba chiefly by narrow leaves and fine hairs on the young shoots and flower stalks, where japonica is smooth. Because the narrow-leaved japonica form 'Longifolia' looks much the same, plants passed along as himalaica are often one or the other, and only a close look at the new growth settles the question. Woodlanders offers the plant as received, an intriguing narrow-leaf aucuba awaiting a final verdict.

Whatever the label, this is an aucuba, and aucubas are among the most forgiving of shade evergreens, tolerant of deep shade, dry soil, city pollution, and general neglect. The genus name comes from the Japanese aokiba, for the evergreen leaves, and like the rest of the clan this narrow-leaved form is dioecious, with small maroon spring flowers and, on pollinated females, red berries in the cooler months. The elegant, tapered foliage gives the plant a lighter, more refined look than the broad-leaved aucubas.

Set this narrow-leaved aucuba in part to full shade in good, well-drained soil with steady moisture, as a foundation shrub, a shaded border filler, or a distinctive evergreen in a woodland planting. The slim leaves read almost like bamboo from a distance and pair well with ferns, hellebores, and other shade companions. As with all aucubas, the leaves and berries can upset the stomach if eaten, a small caution to weigh where children play.