Eleutherococcus Sieboldianus ‘Aureovariegatus’

An excellent foliage shrub for shade gardens, shrub borders or screening, with small greenish-white flowers appearing in globe-like umbels in spring, remeniscent of ivy flowerheads. Flowers on female plants (species is dioecious) may give way to small black berries, but most plants sold in cultivation are females so fruit is rarely seen. ‘Aureovariegatus’ features striking variegated foliage in which the five-fingered palmate leaves are bright green edged with white. With small, sharp thorns, it also makes a good defensive hedge, and is tolerant of drier conditions (once established), urban environments, and poorer soils.