Variegation

Any fans of variegated foliage? I don't think I've got a single variegated woody plant on the place. I did see a Viburnum lantana 'Variegatum' today that caused me to do a double take. They also had Acer 'Esk Sunset', which I thought was kind of interesting. Are there any "must have" variegated plants?

If you don't have the Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' found at Hatfield House outside London, England - then I feel sorry for you. Absolutely Awesome. Unfortunately, it's considered invasive as a species 'round these parts.

I appreciate that others need something beyond green to tickle their fancy. It is something that is usually grown out of. I have a form of the Viburnum lantana of which you speak, one given to me by a dear friend and it is named 'Holden Golden'. I don't tell the friend that it is not particularly favored...

I have many variegated trees - wolfs eye dogwood is a favorite and has great fall foliage as well as are a few other dogwoods such as golden shadows. many jm's here have variegated foliage that are out standing.

I did plant A. p. 'Drummondii' at the old place. Actually, I was so enamored with it I planted two. What was I thinking! I also forgot that I planted Cornus alternafolia 'Golden Shadows' here, but tit perished. Has anyone had success with Golden Shadows? it seems to be a very weak plant and I'm now 0 - 2 with it.

BTW, does anyone know if V. lantana is as susceptible to deer browse as V. dentatum?

Wha, you answered my question as I was typing it. Can you tell me a little about the conditions where your Golden Shadows is sited?

I don't have much in the way of variegated foliage, except for 1 pass-along shrub from my sis-in-law, but that Ginko biloba 'California Sunset' that Dybbuk posted the other day is calling my name.

I have only a few...a Japanese Maple 'Shirazz' that's nicely variegated, a Weigela 'My Monet' in full bloom and a couple of Euonymous. I'm a variegation lover...they all call my name. So, it's either the pocketbook or my propagation prowess (or lack thereof) and finding a volunteer to produce cuttings that determines whether or not I get lucky. I'm fixin' to go visit Dybbuk with my pruning shears.

Muwah ha ha (sp?).

VV why? Why is Lantana not more favored?

Variegation is not more favored - Viburnum lantana or otherwise. It must be something genetic.

I do have this one, and no one else does...

Is that Viburnum japonicum 'Variegatum'? Dmail me if you have some starts or slips of this...or anything

Well, since no one else has it, I'm assuming it hasn't been named and/or propagated. Have you named it? I'm sensing VV is coming out of the variegation closet. Just remember, John, it gets easier.

I am sometimes a fan-but more than the occasional variegated tree or shrub can make the garden look too 'busy' for me.

Ceanothus 'Diamond Heights' a gorgeous groundcover not hardy for me :(
Pieris japonica 'Little Heath' I just planted two :)
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' is pretty and seems easy to grow here
Acer negundo 'variegatum' my mom had an old scraggly one. I thought it was cheerful.
Cornus controversa 'variegata' makes me drool
Azara microphylla 'variegata' as does this.
I agree about the Japanese Maples, some variegated ones are pretty.

check out this link for ideas (I know nothing about the company, but it looks like a plant nut owns it:
http://www.variegatedfoliage.com/trees.html

Catalpa bignonioides 'Pulverulenta'
Acer platanoides 'Drummondii'
Abies homolepis 'Variegata'
Cercis canadensis 'Whitewater'
Cercis canadensis 'Alley Cat'

Ginkgo biloba 'White Lightning'
Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst'
Pinus sylvestris 'Barrie Bergman'
Pinus densiflora 'Burke's Red Variegated'

This message was edited Jun 21, 2014 1:07 AM

I think I associate the "look" of variegation with genetic problems or injury so "unhealthy" in a way. I know this is not true but that's what my automatic mind does!

This message was edited Jun 21, 2014 2:35 AM

Steadycam, Yes, that's what the issue is for me, too. If it looks like the plant is dying, but it's just the variegation, then I'm out the door. In particular, the plants where someone has combined a contorted leaf and a splotchy yellow variegation drive me nuts.

Mipii, I have a "shopping list" for you when you go over to Dybbuk's for your midnight requisition. It's only 50 items long, no biggie. :-)

Pseudo, if you really love something, don't give up until you are 0-3. That Cornus alternafolia 'Golden Shadows' looks beautiful and worth another try.

And VV, if one "grows out of" variegated plants, and you don't care for variegated plants, then this means you are... how old? ;-) BTW, Washington State University's plant list does not show Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' to be invasive here. I'd be tempted, but its fall leaf color is yellow. Out here, we are dominated by native conifers and the fall show isn't very exciting. Also, the native deciduous trees and the non-natives that people plant are often yellow like this Acer. I need ones with flaming red/orange/burgundy, you know, the ones that make you drive off the road. Maybe I should start a thread to discuss trees that tend to have hot fall colors.

I have Golden Shadows also (#1). I think it looks nice with vigorous, non-stunted growth. Blooms nicely also. A cousin (#2) is c. alternifolia Gold Bullion which has fluorescent gold growth in the spring. It's a solid gold leaf, not really variegated. But it sure stands out the the fairly shady understory. I have seen pictures of mature c controversa variegata and I love it, but it's absolutely fussy/wimpy or both; I've tried to grow it several times and haven't even come close to getting one to survive. I understand a couple newer cultivars c. controversa Janine & June Snow are supposed to be less fussy, but I haven't tried either one. I also haven't done well with variegated kousa's, but only tried one or two about 10 yrs ago. Basically got shaded/mildewed out & died.

Edited to add that I didn't notice in the background of the first picture is a creeping picea orientalis w/ golden new growth - one of my favorites for bright spring foliage - I guess it's not really variegation. I got it from Coenosium Gardens nursery from Bob Fincham. He hadn't named the cultivar at the time, but it has done really well for me. I wonder if they ever named it?

This message was edited Jun 21, 2014 9:22 AM

I agree w/ momlady & steadycam about some variegated plants just look sickly.
Or the variegation may only be on the mature leaves leaving the plant splotchily variegated.
(I invented the term 'splotchily' just now; I kind of like it!)
An example of how beautiful variegation doesn't always work:
A recent introduction of a strikingly variegated forsythia: f. viridissima var koreana Kumson.
It's picture was splashed on fronts of catalogs and when I saw it, I knew I had to have it.
Sure enough, the variegated foliage can be beautiful (#1).
But picture #2 shows the problems with it:
Leaves on stems in background are just developing the lacework pattern and look sickly.
Just the leaves toward the end of each stem were variegated,
so most of the plant had dull yellowish faintly laced leaves.
Also it tends to revert. All in all a disappointing plant.

This message was edited Jun 21, 2014 9:04 AM

But here are some variegated shrubs/trees which I like:
#1 Daphne odora MaeJima.
#2 Deutzia gracilis variegata.
#3 Zelkova serrata Goshiki. #4 in fall.
#5 Kerria japonica variegata. I'll admit to steadycam & momlady, the variegated kerria looks a little wimpy and it's leaves are a little malformed, but to me it's still a graceful small shrub which lights up the understory and is much more demure/restrained than her non-variegated sibling.

Oh please, I'm dehydrated from losing body fluids! I could study, marvel and drool at the patterns all day!

There is a variegated ginger that I see everywhere around these parts and it looks like a silk plant that one would buy at hobby lobby, as in a poor reproduction of something.

Kerria japonica 'Fubuki Nishiki', a gift from Raulston Arboretum. A tough plant. It got chewed to the ground, suckered, and came back, which is great, because I really like it, and it's very hard to find.

Callicarpa japonica 'Ingali', also from Raulston, being "beefed up" in a pot.

I think Viburnum nudum Fort Knox™ speaks for itself - sans closeting...

This plant is home grown, and undergoing evaluation at the Valley. If you want it so bad, pony up some cash and do with it what you will. Till then, salivate and subjugate those desires.

Its parentage includes 'Winterthur' and 'Brandywine', but this is a spontaneous characteristic on a seedling plant.

I expected to pony up when I made the request. Can I purchase a propagation license and distribute it too? Dmail me. Fort Knox? Why can't you name her for the pretty woman that mows your lawn and bakes you million dollar bars?

Steadycam, I'm wishing for pictures of variegated ginger, will I be waiting long?

DonnaMack, your Kerria and Japonica are both beautiful...so are the pots you grow them in.

Mmm, super wealth through variegated viburnums and chocolate bars. Sounds good...looks good...tastes good...

Thank you Mipii. Raulston Arboretum is often a testing ground for plants. Some of them are not in commerce. I really give them the credit, because they send me luscious lists and I just choose. They have been testing lots of variegated plants over the past five years. They have really grown on me.

I see nothing wrong with having a few variegated plants, but I also don't much care for the splotchily (great word) variegated types. It also seems to me that plants exhibiting variegation are put on the market soley for the variegation, without much thought as to how they actually look or perform. Example: Syringa reticulata 'Golden Eclipse'. This splotchily-variegated tree does absolutely nothing for me and I can't understand why anyone would want this one in their garden. But hey, to each their own.

Daphne odora 'MaeJima' is more to my liking. Weerobin, has that been fully hardy for you?

definitely not.
he winters in a pot in my forlorn garage.

I think the variegation is a fad, just like "golden" plants were a few years back. I have never actually bought one. All of mine were gifts. Ans a little variegation goes a long way. And some of them are very weak.

But then, I thought the golden thing was sort of nonsense until I was given Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls'. Rock solid, it's also gorgeous and has multiple seasons of interest. To my shock, it thrives in full sun one the west side of my property. I had it on the north side at home and wasn't sure this would work. It's five years old and was moved from the ground to a pot and then the ground again. Never missed a beat.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/103666/

for Mipii

Sounds perfect you lucky, lucky girl Donna! Are you a trial grower / evaluator? More importantly, the variegated cultivars are growing in demand and popularity. They certainly have a place in the landscape.

Now I have to go get the Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls'! Plants with that leaf color are particularly handy in a more shady area of the yard and really can pop instead of disappearing. Any idea how much shade the Deutzia will take?

Mmm, mmm, that Deutzia is splendid and so is the variegated Ginger. Thanks for the sharing!

Another nice variegated shrub is caryopteris divaricata Snow Fairy.
Late season of bloom is bonus.

I am a sponsor member of Raulston Arboretum, which is in Raleigh, and it was part of their "Connoisseur Plants" program. I am just about their northernmost member, so they like to send me things to see how they do.

It will definitely takes part shade. It faces north on my former property. Here it is just after I got it in 2009, and it was on the north side of my property. It got no sunlight in the morning, although it did in the afternoon. This is in early June. (pic 1.)

Picture 2 shows it in July, next to polemonium caeruleum, another plant that can take sun but does better in part shade. As you can see, it didn't get a ton of sun.

Pic. 3 shows it's first year bloom in the second year I had it.

In pic 4, it is in its current location, under an azalea. After I moved it to my new house. As you can see, it didn't miss a beat. It's bloom is actually quite blinding. This was last year.

And pic five shows it post bloom, last week. It NEVER looks bad. I highly recommend it.

This message was edited Jun 22, 2014 8:10 PM

Yes Wee, Caryopteris divaricata 'Snow Fairy' certainly is another nice variegated shrub (it's been on my radar too). Nice pics btw.

I had no idea about perks of a sponsor member, I need something explained to me everyday, thanks for the learnin' fix.

Pseudo - golden shadows (2) along with a gold bullion are in the back of a full shade hosta garden - it is relatively dry there - had it out in some partial sun early on and had to move it out before it burnt.

also have many of the other variegated trees/bushes mentioned earlier - shirazz is one of my favorite jm's have two of them in separate parts of the yard - great tree in the spring - fall so/so

I'm afraid I am a sucker for plants with variegated or golden foliage. In a bed in close proximity to each other I have the viburnum lantata 'Variegatum', caryopteris 'White Surprise', acanthopanx sieboldiananus 'Variegatus' along the variegated perennials bergenia 'Tubby Andrews', geranium macrorrhizum 'Variegatum', tricyrtis 'Gilt Edge' and the golden leafed filapendula 'Aurea'. It works because it is a shady bed, the variegation on all of them is subtle (except for the acanthopanx). and there are enough green foliaged plants around them to prevent that patch quilt look.

In a mostly sunny part of the same bed I grow the golden leaved smoke bush 'Golden Spirit' (one of my favorites) and the wiegelia 'My Monet' with golden oregano as a ground cover. Flowers with this combination are unnecessary!

Sounds beautiful Frahnzone!