A Virgin for Eighty Years: Aucuba, an overlooked treasure

Finding herself in sole charge of the National Collection of Aucuba japonica on the death of her knowledgeable plantsman husband, Linda Eggins became drawn into researching the species and realised that the cultivar names were confused. In her attempt to sort out the nomenclature she also uncovered a fascinating story behind this often derided shrub. She here tells the tale of the “Virgin for 80 years” while trying to get to the bottom of the cultivar confusion.

This book will encourage readers to look at aucubas with fresh eyes and respect for these valuable contributors to gardens past and present and find help in growing and naming them.