Rounded shrub to 2 m tall. Leaves to about 20 cm long, 10 cm wide, elliptic to lanceolate, leathery, glossy on both surfaces, with large well-spaced teeth towards the tip, occasionally entire. Sexes occur on separate plants so males and females are grown together to produce fruit. Male flowers in erect terminal branched clusters, each flower about 8 mm wide with 4(5) purplish petals. Flowers numerous in dense, branched clusters; late spring. Fruit in compact clusters, oval, bright scarlet (only on female plants).
E Asia.
Source: (2002). Cornaceae. In: . 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.
Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia'
A female clone with large leaves finely speckled with yellow.
A female clone with the leaves blotched with yellow. 'Gold Dust' is also occasionally listed.