The ornamental gold-flecked leaves of Aucuba japonica are truly an ornament. It's even worse when they turn black and maybe even fall off. In most cases, however, this is not a drama.
If the Aucuba japonica gets too much sun, it can get sunburned
On the one hand, it is common for evergreen plants to lose some leaves from time to time so that new ones can grow there. This happens not only in autumn, but spread over the year. So as long as there aren't more leaves falling than new ones growing, you don't have to worry. However, you should check for large-area leaf discoloration.
Is my Aucuba japonica sunburned?
If your Aucuba japonica develops black leaves in the middle of a nice sunny summer, then it is very likely sunburned. However, this is only possible if the plant is actually in the sun. It prefers a semi-shady or shady location. There their leaves cannot burn.
Feel free to cut off the affected leaves, they are not a pretty sight and will fall off on their own after a while anyway. You should also move your Aucuba japonica to a slightly more shady place. However, full shade is only suitable for simple green-leaved Aukuben, species with colorful foliage usually lose their leaf markings there.
Where do black leaves come from in winter?
If an excessive number of leaves on your Aucuba japonica turn black during the winter and the plant is left outside, it will probably have frost damage. This will rarely happen in a mild area, because depending on the species, Aukuben tolerate frost down to about - 5 °C or even - 15 °C. However, it shouldn't last too long.
If your Aukube overwinters indoors, a location that is too warm could be the reason for the blackened leaves. It is also conceivable that the plant has received too little light.
The most important reasons for black leaves on the Aukube:
- age of the leaves
- sunburn
- frost damage
- too dark location
- too much heat in winter
tips
Black leaves are only a cause for concern in excess. Check your Aukube for frost damage in the spring and for sunburn in the summer.