{"id":"aucuba-japonica","license":"CC-BY-4.0","data":{"scientificName":"Aucuba japonica","commonNames":["Japanese aucuba"],"taxonRank":"species","acceptedName":"Aucuba japonica","family":"Garryaceae","ids":{"usdaSymbol":"AUJA","gbifKey":3033077,"itisTsn":565023,"wikidataQid":"Q163114","inatTaxonId":56206},"usdaZoneMin":"7a","zoneSource":"fps-2016","states":["DC","DE","MD","NC","NJ","OH","PA","WA","WV"],"rangeAssertions":[{"relation":"introduced","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NC"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NCA — North Carolina"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"},{"relation":"introduced","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["WA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 WAS — Washington"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"}],"statusAssertions":[{"status":"introduced-established","channel":"ecological","geography":{"grain":"aggregate-region","regions":["L48"]},"source":"us-riis-v2","sourceRecordId":"USRIIS-L48-Plantae6545","sourceVersion":"2.0 (November 2022)","asOf":"2022-10-23T00:00:00.000Z","sourceModified":"2017-11-21T00:00:00.000Z","sourceTaxon":{"name":"Aucuba japonica","rank":"species","rawRank":"Species"},"sourceDesignation":{"code":"C3","label":"established (category C3)"},"associatedReferences":["USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS Database (2021or), https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=AUJA"],"taxonProjection":{"basis":"exact-taxon","notes":"exact source identifier, rank, family, and scientific/accepted name"}}],"hardinessAssertions":[{"minimum":"7","interpretation":"ambiguous-single-value","precision":"whole-zone","zoneMapping":"source-stated","applicability":"uncertain","applicabilityNotes":"The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.","source":"fps-eastern-us","sourceRecordId":"aucuba-japonica","sourceTaxon":"Aucuba japonica","taxonMatch":"exact","sourcePlacement":"Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record","sourceVersion":"2016-wayback","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"}],"plantForm":"shrub","matureHeightFt":10,"sun":"full","photo":{"file":"/images/plants/aucuba-japonica.jpg","sourceUrl":"https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/605324136","observationUrl":"https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/333422781","license":"cc-by","attribution":"(c) Jose Castro, some rights reserved (CC BY)","fetchedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},"evidence":[{"source":"fps-eastern-us","verdict":"mixed","verdictRaw":"MODERATELY Firewise (2)","claims":"Showy waxy leaves.","sourcePlacement":{"value":"LZ3","scheme":"fps-landscape-zone"},"edition":"2016-wayback","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"va-firescapes","verdict":"avoid","verdictRaw":"H flammability","claims":"Requires shade. Prefers warmer climates.","edition":"2009","url":"http://web.archive.org/web/20090709143736/http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-300/430-300.pdf","accessedOn":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"girona-pirojardineria-2020","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"RECOMENDADA","claims":"Aucuba japonica is rated “RECOMENDADA” by the guide's qualitative IUF garden-suitability method. The method assumes species-specific care and integrates fire evidence with fuel structure, maintenance, origin, invasiveness, and expert fire-service experience.","sourcePlacement":{"value":"suitable inside or outside the 25-metre maximum-risk zone","scheme":"girona-2020-iuf-25m-suitability"},"edition":"2020 Spanish edition","url":"https://interior.gencat.cat/web/.content/home/030_arees_dactuacio/bombers/foc_forestal/publicacions_tecniques_i_normativa/guies_tecniques/prevencio_i_extincio/2020_Guia_de_pirojardineria_es.pdf","documentDate":"2020-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"tadaki-kira-fire-classification","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"大","score":{"value":3,"scale":"tadaki-kira-fire-protection-power-0-3"},"claims":"Table 10-2 prints アオキ in the large fire-protection-power class. The Kagoshima reproduction says highly fire-protective trees can slow spread, promote upward dispersal of heat and smoke, and intercept flying embers.","plantPart":"whole-plant","sourcePlacement":{"value":"アオキ — Table 10-2","scheme":"tadaki-kira-1982-fire-protection-power"},"edition":"Hito to Shinrin (1982), Table 10-2; Kagoshima web reproduction","url":"https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ah12/kurashi-kankyo/sumai/kankyo/hoshin3/theme10/273.html","documentDate":"1982-11-01T00:00:00.000Z","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"sun-city-tx-firewise-plant-guide-2015","verdict":"mixed","verdictRaw":"medium","claims":"The table rates Acuba — Acuba japonica medium for flammability hazard, defined as the ease a plant can burn at high temperatures for a prolonged time.","plantPart":"whole-plant","sourcePlacement":{"value":"Shrubs","scheme":"Sun City plant-table sections"},"edition":"updated January 14, 2015","url":"http://web.archive.org/web/20250114065810/https://www.sariverauthority.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FIREWISE-PLANT-LIST-Sun-City.pdf","documentDate":"2015-01-14T00:00:00.000Z","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"canberra-plant-selector","verdict":"recommend","verdictRaw":"Fire Retardant — Yes — Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'","claims":"The live Canberra Plant Selector marks “Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'” as “Fire Retardant: Yes.”","plantPart":"whole-plant","sourcePlacement":{"value":"filtered result page 7","scheme":"canberra-selector"},"edition":"live tool capture 2026-08-25","url":"https://plantselector.com.au/browse-plants/?fire_retardant%5B0%5D=1","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"}],"flammabilityClass":"fire-resistant","ratingReason":"majority","recommendation":"on-list","author":"grayson-graham","reviewStatus":"draft","lastVerified":"2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z","reviewNotes":"Photo auto-selected (top-voted iNat); human review pending."},"localAssessmentInputs":{"stateDistribution":["DC","DE","MD","NC","NJ","OH","PA","WA","WV"],"nativeStates":[],"rangeAssertions":[{"relation":"introduced","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["NC"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 78 — Southeastern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 NCA — North Carolina"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"introduced","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["WA"],"regions":["TDWG level 1 7 — NORTHERN AMERICA","TDWG level 2 73 — Northwestern U.S.A.","TDWG level 3 WAS — Washington"]},"occurrenceStatus":"present","presenceStatus":"extant","source":"wcvp-v16","sourceVersion":"16","asOf":"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"},{"relation":"documented-occurrence","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["DC","DE","MD","NC","NJ","OH","PA","WA","WV"]},"provenance":"legacy-field"}],"usdaZoneMin":"7a","usdaZoneMax":null,"hardinessAssertions":[{"minimum":"7","interpretation":"ambiguous-single-value","precision":"whole-zone","zoneMapping":"source-stated","applicability":"uncertain","applicabilityNotes":"The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.","source":"fps-eastern-us","sourceRecordId":"aucuba-japonica","sourceTaxon":"Aucuba japonica","taxonMatch":"exact","sourcePlacement":"Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record","sourceVersion":"2016-wayback","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"}],"hardinessSelection":{"status":"unresolved-applicability","assertions":[{"minimum":"7","interpretation":"ambiguous-single-value","precision":"whole-zone","zoneMapping":"source-stated","applicability":"uncertain","applicabilityNotes":"The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.","source":"fps-eastern-us","sourceRecordId":"aucuba-japonica","sourceTaxon":"Aucuba japonica","taxonMatch":"exact","sourcePlacement":"Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record","sourceVersion":"2016-wayback","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","provenance":"cited"}]},"invasiveIn":[],"statusAssertions":[{"status":"introduced-established","channel":"ecological","geography":{"grain":"aggregate-region","regions":["L48"]},"source":"us-riis-v2","sourceRecordId":"USRIIS-L48-Plantae6545","sourceVersion":"2.0 (November 2022)","asOf":"2022-10-23T00:00:00.000Z","sourceModified":"2017-11-21T00:00:00.000Z","sourceTaxon":{"name":"Aucuba japonica","rank":"species","rawRank":"Species"},"sourceDesignation":{"code":"C3","label":"established (category C3)"},"associatedReferences":["USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS Database (2021or), https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=AUJA"],"taxonProjection":{"basis":"exact-taxon","notes":"exact source identifier, rank, family, and scientific/accepted name"},"provenance":"cited"}],"fireEvidenceClass":"fire-resistant","recommendation":"on-list","fireSourceScopes":[{"source":"sun-city-tx-firewise-plant-guide-2015","sourceName":"Firewise Plant Guide","sourceUrl":"http://web.archive.org/web/20250114065810/https://www.sariverauthority.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FIREWISE-PLANT-LIST-Sun-City.pdf","geography":{"grain":"aggregate-region","stateCodes":["TX"],"regions":["Sun City Texas, Georgetown"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"The guide is authored for the Sun City Texas community in Georgetown. FireApproved publishes 142 exact owners only as community-level context. It is an archived HOA exhibit with unknown rating lineage, not a current statewide Texas source or an independent Tier 1 determination.","sourceVersion":"Sun-City-Texas-Firewise-guide-2015-01-14","asOf":"2015-01-14T00:00:00.000Z"},{"source":"va-firescapes","sourceName":"Virginia Firescapes — Firewise Landscaping for Woodland Homes (430-300)","sourceUrl":"http://web.archive.org/web/20090709143736/http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-300/430-300.pdf","geography":{"grain":"state","stateCodes":["VA"]},"completeness":"partial","reviewStatus":"reviewed","scope":"Virginia Cooperative Extension's publication opens with Virginia wildfire conditions, identifies its Virginia Firewise Landscaping Task Force, and labels plants native to Virginia. FireApproved publishes 306 exact source owners. Publication scope does not establish parcel suitability or current endorsement of this archived 2009 list.","sourceVersion":"Virginia-VCE-430-300-2009","asOf":"2009-04-15T00:00:00.000Z"}],"firePerformanceConditions":[],"maintenanceAssertions":[],"maintenanceConditions":null,"regulatoryReviews":{},"seedReviews":{}},"legacyCompatibilityProjection":{"nativeStates":[],"invasiveIn":[]},"localAssessmentContract":"Compare each dimension separately. State noxious-weed seed designations are material-scoped and never become non-seed plant restrictions, ecological-invasive findings, nursery restrictions, alternatives, product evidence, or fire votes. Introduced/established context is not an invasive warning. Minimum-only hardiness has no inferred maximum; canonical source-temperature conversion is validated and contradictory applicable rows project no primary zone. L48 context applies only to conterminous states and is never exact-state status. Fire-performance conditions are not maintenance advice. FEIS fire-ecology context does not vote in the plant classification. Absence of a status row is not regulatory clearance."}