Digital Flower Pictures.com: Boxwood

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

ABC Wednesday - V is for Variegation

ABC Wednesday - V is for Variegation

If you are here for Wordless Wednesday kindly scroll down to the next post. Think about joining ABC Wednesday it is a good, fun group.

I really wanted to have seasonal tie in to this post so I went yesterday and found a Variegated Poinsettia. Here are two views of two different plants. I wasn’t sure about the second one since the leaves were solid green but since the colored parts of a Poinsettia are actually ‘bracts’ or modified leaves I think it counts as variegated. Actually I found out after writing this variegation counts on flowers, stems and leaves.

The reasons for and the types of variegations can get quite scientific. While I am fascinated by plant science and it is a necessary part of my work it really comes down to weather I like the looks of a plant and how well it functions in its position. In that way I guess I am more of a farmer then a scientist. I do like variegated plants and find them a good way to accent plantings and in shade gardens, especially, brighten up the garden. Most have a certain elegance about them that can add a touch of class to what would normally be a mundane planting.

A good low light houseplant, Pilea cadierei or Aluminum Plant is an example of blister type variegation.

Inch Plant (Tradescantia zebrina)

Simply put a plant is considered variegated when there is more than one color on the leaves. These colorings have to be genetic and not the product of soil deficiencies, pests or plant diseases. There different types of variegation including striped, mottled and margined. Generally variegated plants are less hardy, slower growing and considered weaker than their all green counterparts. They can only be reproduced by vegetative reproduction (don’t come true to seed).

A plant with a lot of synonyms, Buxus sempervirens 'Elegantissima' or Variegated Boxwood. An example of margined variegation. This picture shows some of the striking effect variegated plants can have in the garden.

If you want some more information on variegation here is a link to a good article on
Wikipedia

Here are some of the blogs that participate in ABC Wednesday. I am finding new people all the time. I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and thank them for the opportunity to be part of such a fine group. I can’t believe we have made it almost all the way through the alphabet! It is getting a little difficult to visit everyone now. I try and visit the UK people before I go to work as it about 11pm there when I get home from work and the US west coast people in my afternoon. I haven’t figured out exactly where the Aussies fit in to the timing.

One more thing, I see one of my favorite bloggers in ABC, Walks for Women has deleted her blog. I hope she is okay as she was a great Blogger whose site I often left thinking about what she wrote. If anyone knows what happened please email me. If you happen to read this WFW I really enjoyed your blog and I hope someday you will start it up again. God bless you and I hope your Holidays are filled with warmth, family and a sense of peace.