Variegated Plants

» bilbobwn - Variegated Plants

I LOVE variegated plants in my small garden. I find they add "movement" and that necessary contrast as well as brightening up a dark spot.
My favorite thing is to find a sport amongst my green plants and to see if I can propagate it further. I been working for a couple of years now with a drumstick primrose that I had grown from seed which grew withvariegatedd leaves. However, I noticed this summer that it did not seem as vigorous as itsneighbourss so I will only give it one more year to prove itself.
That's one problem with some variegated plants I have found in the nursery's. With many people attracted to a variegated plant some are beinpropagateded and sold are not as vigorous as their green cousins. Ivigourur and health are substantially lower I believe we need to buy and use these plants either cautiously or not at all. Sue BrownHammondsds Plains, NS, Canada

-- posted by bilbobwn

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion Join the latest discussions

» Marge_Talt - Re: Variegated Plants

In response to message posted by bilbobwn:

Hi Sue,

You sound like a lady after my own heart! Variegated is where it's at for me:-) Well, I haven't gone so far as one lady I read about, who had nothing but variegated plants in her garden, but if it's variegated, I'll hone in on it like a bullet...

I've not tried propagating, but I have found a bunch of "wild" Tradescantia (not, actually among my favorite plants), many of whom are showing variegated leaves. Well, this was a couple three years ago, and I've just been watching that patch. Each year, some of them are variegated - so this year, I have removed all the non-variegated ones to see what happens:-) If it looks like they are going to keep coming back variegated, then I'll see about moving them to a better spot....not actually propagating:-)

Many variegated plants are not as vigorous as their green brethern; that's because of the variegation.

From what I've gathered, most variegated plants are being propagated by tissue culture these days and TC plants can be quite variable - which you wouldn't think, being all clones of one plant - but seems, from the chat I've read from nursery persons on lists, to be true. Nurseries tend to buy in massive quantities of TC babies - really tiny plugs - and then grow them on to salable size. I don't think most of them are doing much roguing, either...so, you're right, it's 'buyer beware' out there.

When you say your primrose isn't as vigorous, do you mean it's not doing well or just growing more slowley? Does it bloom?

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion Join the latest discussions

» bilbobwn - Re: Variegated Plants

In response to message posted by Marge_Talt:

HMargege,
The plant is not as large as it's greneighboursurs. It did bloom. I didn't bother collecting the seeds since most variegated don't come true from seed anyway and I don't haalotlot of room to pamper seeds over winter. However, in hindsight I probably should have.I did take the seed head from this one and the green ones around it and spread them further down the bed hoping to have a few more sprout next year and slowly fill up the bed along my pathSueBrownrown

-- posted by bilbobwn

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion Join the latest discussions

» Marge_Talt - Re: Variegated Plants

In response to message posted by bilbobwn:

Well, Sue, just because it's not as large, I wouldn't say it wasn't doing well....being variegated is enough to keep it smaller.

I doubt it would seed true; they're quite promiscuous anyway..always crossing with anything nearly suitable, it seems with my guys:-)

I'd keep that child and see what happens; could be most interesting. If it comes back and retains its variegation for several years running, you can figure you've got something.

-- posted by Marge_Talt

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion Join the latest discussions