SEATTLE — If you’re having difficulty finding a shrub that will survive in dry shade, especially underneath giant evergreens that suck up every inch of available moisture, give Aucuba japonica a try.

Many factors might go into choosing which plants we use in our landscapes. For most of us, the primary concern is the aesthetic value of the plant — how it looks in our yards. We all have different ...

Dear Neil: How should I prune my aucuba plant? It is too tall, but I am afraid I’ll ruin it if I cut it very much. Answer: Prune it one stem at a time. Make each cut in a way that the remaining leaves ...

A: The wilting is a symptom of Phytophthora root rot, a soilborne disease. Keep the plant as healthy and vigorous as possible so it can battle through this condition of the soil. That means that it’s ...

Q: My aucuba shrub has many blackened leaves. About half are either totally black or have black spots. What is going on? Cindy MacNabb, Decatur A: I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts that your aucuba has ...

How can I tell if my crape myrtles were damaged by the cold weather? Also my aucuba plants wilted when it was cold. Was that due to dehydration? A.C. — Tulsa There is no good way to tell how much ...