I grow this plant more than five years outdoors (4 winters) and like to say that it's very unpretentious. First winters I used some styrox shield protection, later only a thick layer of snow. It needs light garden fabric protection from direct sunlight in spring when ground is frozen. I like it very much, this summer it bloomed first time (small very modest flowers). I'd recommend Aucuba for all exotic plant lovers. My cultivar is "Crotonifolia" and I don't see any difference with "variegata". My plant is about 50cm high.