Full sun may blacken the plant's leaves. Gold dust plant (Aucuba japonica Vaiegata) is an evergreen aucuba cultivar grown for its 3- to 8-inch green leaves, which are splattered with attractive yellowish gold speckles.The slow-growing shrub grows up to 10 feet tall, with a spread of up to 6 feet.iven up patios and indoor spaces with a containerized gold dust plant. The plant handles containers well, as long as the potting soil is well-draining and the container has a hole in the bottom. Water container plants frequently in summer and use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month.