Variegated Plants 



When the flowers are gone — the disphy of leaf color remains . 



W.S. Pike 



Variegated plants are those which have either definite 

 patterns of cream or white in their leaves and those which 

 display irregular splashes. The lack of chlorophyll in areas of 

 the leaf is what the eye see as the color — when actually the 

 white is a lack of color. 



International culture of variegated plants is somewhat 

 recent in horticulture. Not that they have ever been absent, 

 but nurserymen discovering a variegated "sport" would 

 promptly pinch it off to be discarded in the compost bin, 

 considering it as weak plant tissue. The feeling that it is weak 

 tissue is still a true fact Less chlorophyll in the leaf surface 

 means less food production for the welfare of the entire plant- 

 — not good engineering for the survival of the species. 



Variegated "sports" found on an otherwise solid green 

 plant are at a disadvantage. Slower growing, they can soon be 

 "shadowed" by the faster growing solid leaves, giving the less 

 light to grow by. Unchecked, many of these "sports" would 

 soon die out Because a market has been created for "new" 

 plants, the variegated "sports" are removed from the parent 

 plant, rooted, and grow to be an entirely variegated specimen. 



Variegations can be a result of genetic structure, or the 

 harboring of a "friendly" virus in the one little area of the 

 plant — the "sport " — that causes the lack of chlorophyll. 

 When these are found, they are selected for propagation. The 

 cutting is usually taken above the first set of patterned leaves, 

 thus trying to eliminate any solid ones. This is especially true 

 in perennials that die back to the roots in winter. If rooted in 

 the solid green area, the chance of variegated foliage return- 

 ing in the spring is next to nothing. 



With all variegated plants, care must be given to examine 

 them every once in a while. 'These plants are not really 

 "normal" and solid green shoots may appear, which are by 

 nature much stronger and faster growing and can soon 

 overtake the slower, weaker variegated growth. Thus, 

 pruning is essential if the leave do revert 



Temperature or sun intensity can regulate the color 

 degree in some varieties of variegated plants, showing 

 patterns only in the cooler weather of spring and fall. Being 

 sensitive to the extreme heat of summer, the varieties turn 

 solid green, and blend in with every other plant in the garden. 

 In the cooler fall, the color returns. 



Variegated plant scan be displayed as focal specimens — a 

 clump in the center of many different varieties of solid green 

 plants creates a visual point When the sun light is shining on 

 the white or cream leaves, it acts like a spotlight reflecting on 

 the color — your eye is naturally drawn to this center point 



Small clumps are not the only way to display variegated 

 plants. Many forms of ground cover with 'colored' leaves can 

 easily grown, creating a spectacular effect Species can be 



April & 



found for either full light, deep shade, or both. Hardy ivies are 

 one example. Propagated with ease they spread rapidly and 

 give a wonderful display in almost any location. Variegated 

 pachysandra, an ideal ground cover for partial shade, keeps 

 its leaves all year long, More interesting to the eye than the 

 usual waxy green-variety, this is an excellent choice for area 

 where grass tends not to grow well, or on an embankment 

 that is too steep to mow. These ground covers and many 

 more can be found at very reasonable prices in almost every 

 nursery-catalogue. 



Several speciality greenhouses in the country deal almost 

 entirely in variegated varieties of plants. One of which is 

 Glasshouse Works, located on Church St in Stewart, Ohio 

 45778. Almost every form of tropical, herbal, and perennial 

 plant can be found there in its variegated form — if it can be 

 found at all. The owners there are very knowledgeable and 

 helpful in aiding the customer with proper selection and 

 culture of their thousands of varieties — every one with its 

 proper botanical name. 



Remembering that variegated leaves are weaker than their 

 corresponding solid ones, some varieties must be grown in 

 brighter light to maintain strong growth, while other varieties 

 need more shade than their solid green counterpart to 

 prevent the sun from burning the white or cream areas. An 

 example is the variegated strawberry (Fragaria vesca) . 

 Preferring slight shade during the heat of July and August 

 tiie healthiest plants (which spread by runners) can be found 

 in the shadows of taller shrubs during those montiis. 



Species like the variegated forsythia (Forsythia intermedia 

 'Spring Glory') or butterfly bush {Buddleia davidii varig.) 

 show their most vigorous growth performance in full south- 

 em exposure. If planted in heavy shade, the variegated foliage 

 will be pale and spindly. 



The most useful purpose of variegated plants is that they 

 make spectacular showings for the entire season. Common 

 shrubs like the butterfly bush and forsythia, that have 

 beautiful but all-too-brief displays of flowers; or the nonde- 

 script-flowering, fast-growing "Memorial Rose" {Rosa 

 wichuraiana) , when in its non-colored leaf form is descrip- 

 tively a weed, can be highly utilized in landscaping for 

 continual garden color. 



Should you be ever so fortunate to find a variegated "sport" 

 on an otiierwise solid green plant think twice about what 

 could be "a new introduction". ••* 



Wilson Pike gardens in Durham, NH and is partial to plants 

 with variegated foliage. For particulars, call him at (603) 

 659-3597. 



May 1993 



