Is it too late to prune an acuba?

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mdh963 Pikeville, NC May 12, 2015

I live in Zone 8a. Here in NC it's technically Spring, but we can go from the 60's one day to the 90's the next. Is it too late for me to prune my acuba? It's gotten pretty big. If it's not too late, how much can I cut it back at one time?

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) May 12, 2015

They are pretty forgiving about when and how much. Just avoid pruning too late in the year when new growth could get hit by frost. Now is just fine.

I have seen them come back from a very severe pruning (over 50%). This may be a lot, but the plant needed it and it recovered pretty well. (It has since been removed- it really was in the wrong location).

If it is growing in the right place (that is, a large enough area) I would think even 25% might be a lot of pruning. But if that shapes it up nicely, then go for it.

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mdh963 Pikeville, NC May 13, 2015

Thanks!! I'll hop on that this weekend. They've gotten really big.

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) May 13, 2015

They are large shrubs. Many people plant them in small spaces and then have to keep cutting them back.
Someone did that at my Dad's house. 16" wide space, under low hanging eaves, and 2 plants (Aucuba and Camelia japonica) that get 6' wide, 8'+ tall. Plus 3 Azaleas (3-4'' high and wide).

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mdh963 Pikeville, NC May 13, 2015

I had 2 Aucuba and 2 rhododendrons along a 33ft wall. The rhododendrons didn't fair well. They were cuttings from another plant. I'm going to try again with the rhododendron... maybe just 1 this time to see how it fairs first.

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