Aucubaefolia Lilac                si-RING-ga vul-GAH-ris

• Broadleaf deciduous shrub, 8-10 ft [2.4-3 m], upright, rounded.  Leaves opposite, simple, irregularly splashed yellow variegation, considered similar to that of aucuba foliage, hence ‘Aucubaefolia’.  Flowers have deep purple buds open to double or semi-double, fragrant lilac-blue blossoms.
• ‘Aucubaefolia’ arose as a sport from ‘President Grevy.’
• The variegated cultivar ‘Dappled Dawn’ is sometimes listed as the same as ‘Aucubaefolia’, however, one authority, Ronald Houtman [Variegated Trees and Shrubs: The Illustrated Encyclopedia.  Timber Press, 2004] states that the flowers of ‘Dappled Dawn’ are single not semi-double as those of ‘Aucubaefolia’.  Another variegated lilac is ‘Wittbolds Variegated’.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 3