Leaf coloration in some plants is more pronounced in spring, fading as the season progresses. So, our palettes are not static, like a painter's, but ever changing because our "paint" is alive. Notice I haven't mentioned "fall color". If you do a search on the web for "leaf color", 90% of the hits are about "fall color". The color leaves change in the fall is a valid addition to our palettes, but it, too, is fleeting like the flowers.
Variegation
In addition to our basic leaf color palette, plants provide us with built-in color contrast when they have variegated leaves.
Some variegations are bold, whether abstract or quite regularly patterned. When bold color is combined with a large leaf, the plant creates a definite presence in the garden.
Some leaves combine more than one color; some begin the year distinctively variegated and as the season progresses, meld into one tone. Variegation in some leaves is quite subtle; you must look closely to appreciate the veining and penciling.
Some people dislike all leaf variegation intensely. I love it. Nothing brightens a dark corner like a variegated leaf. Yes, you do have to use them judiciously. But this is true with all color, in all media.
Pure leaf color is only one of the tools plants give us to create beautiful gardens. Next time, I'll tell you about some more of them. See ya' later.
LINKS
- Anything But Green, the web site of the Variegated and Colored Leaf Plant Group, is the place to go to see lots of photos of variegated leaf plants. You can also view past issues of the newsletter and join the group.
- Do you know what a chimera is? Variegated plants are perhaps the most common types of chimeras and this paper, ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROPAGATION OF CHIMERAS by R. Daniel Lineberger, Professor of Horticulture, will give you a thorough explanation. Warning! It's a bit on the technical side.
PHOTO CREDITS
Photo collages by Marge Talt
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