Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Japanese Laurel 'Rozannie'

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie'

£22.99
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerantEvergreenRHS award winner
Pot size
17cm / 2L £22.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' is a compact Japanese laurel that sets its own berries, with no partner plant needed. Broad, glossy, plain deep green leaves clothe a dense, rounded shrub, and because it carries both male and female flowers it produces clusters of large, bright red berries on its own.

Hardiness and seasons. The RHS rates it H5 and gives it the Award of Garden Merit. Small purple flowers open in spring, the berries colour up in autumn and hang on through winter, and the leaves stay glossy all year. Unlike the familiar spotted laurel, 'Rozannie' has no gold speckling: the colour comes from the berries against clean green foliage.

Where it fits. At 0.5 to 1m, roughly half the size of a standard aucuba, it is one of the best evergreens for shady corners, including dry shade under trees, and it settles happily in large pots. Pair it with the slim, willow-leaved Aucuba 'Salicifolia' for contrast.

What you receive: a young plant in a 17cm (2L) pot.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Japanese Laurel 'Rozannie'

Give me sun with a little shade and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Japanese Laurel 'Rozannie'

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' needs partial shade or full shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H5 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −15°C

Rated H5 by the RHS, so it comes through cold UK winters, down to around -15C, with its leaves and berries intact. Plants in pots feel frost sooner, so move them against a wall in a hard freeze. See what to expect through the seasons.

Position

Partial shadeFull shadeNorth-facingEast-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

Partial to full shade suits it best, including the dry, rooty shade under trees where little else thrives. Strong sun can blacken or scorch young leaves, so keep it out of hot, south-facing spots. It copes with both sheltered and exposed sites and makes a glossy, low backdrop in a shady exotic border.

Soil

ChalkLoamSandMoist but well-drainedWell-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

Any soil that is not waterlogged: chalk, loam or sand, acid or alkaline. Mulch after planting to help it settle. In containers, use a loam-based compost and keep it watered in dry spells.

Watering

Water regularly through the first year, especially in dry shade where tree roots compete. Mulch after planting. Once established it copes with dry spells. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first year, especially in dry shade where tree roots compete. Mulch after planting. Once established it copes with dry spells.

Mature size

Height0.5-1 m
Spread0.5-1 m

Reaches full size in 10-20 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

Mar-Apr · Purple

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Trim in spring to shape it or keep it compact, using secateurs rather than shears so the large leaves are not cut in half.

Toxicity

Harmful if eaten. The berries are ornamental and not to be eaten, and the leaves and fruit contain aucubin, which can cause nausea and vomiting. Keep pets and children from eating the berries, and wear gloves when handling.

Native range

SE China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan (species); 'Rozannie' is a cultivar

Family

Garryaceae

Also known as

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie'

Genus

Aucuba
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aucuba 'Rozannie' a spotted laurel?

It is the same species as spotted laurel, Aucuba japonica, but 'Rozannie' has plain, glossy deep green leaves with no gold spots. It is chosen for its compact size and its heavy crop of red berries rather than leaf markings.

Does Aucuba 'Rozannie' need a male plant to berry?

No. Most aucubas are either male or female, but 'Rozannie' carries both kinds of flower, so a single plant sets bright red berries on its own. A male aucuba nearby can increase the crop, but it is not required.

Does Aucuba prefer sun or shade?

Shade. It does best in partial or full shade, including dry shade under trees, and strong sun can scorch or blacken the young leaves. That makes it one of the most useful evergreens for difficult shady spots.

Is Aucuba fast growing?

No, it is slow. 'Rozannie' takes ten to twenty years to reach its full 0.5 to 1m, which is why it stays neat in borders and pots with very little pruning.

Where is the best place to plant Aucuba?

A shady or partly shaded spot in any soil that does not stay waterlogged. North and east-facing beds, the shade of a wall or the area under trees all suit it, and its compact size makes it a good choice for pots in a shaded courtyard.

What are the common problems with Aucuba japonica?

It is generally trouble-free. Blackened leaves are the usual complaint, caused by hot sun, hard frost on young growth or waterlogged roots. Scale insects can occasionally appear, and like many shrubs it can be affected by honey fungus. The berries are not edible, so keep them away from pets and children.

Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.

If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.

If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

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From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie'
£22.99