Derived from the Japanese name for the plant.

Evergreen shrubs and small trees. Leaves opposite, lanceolate, leathery, glossy, generally with some teeth. Flower clusters axillary or terminal. Flowers unisexual and produced on different plants. Sepals, petals and stamens 4. Petals purplish red or green. Fruit an oblong orange to red berry with a persistent calyx.

Grown for the lush, thick glossy leaves that are useful for hedging and dense screens, occasionally as container plants.Will tolerate heat and dry but needs some shade.

Sometimes placed in its own family, Aucubaceae.

3-4 species from the Himalaya to Japan.

Cuttings, seed or layers.

Large glossy green leaves, generally variegated with gold.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Cornaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.