Growing Variegated Leaves

Variegated Leaves can be the most attractive feature of a garden or houseplant.
Colour schemes vary and there is likely to be a colour combination that pleases most gardeners.

Gardeners Tips for Growing Variegated Leaved Plants

• Consider the light when planting. Many colours can get ‘burned out’ by strong sunshine.
• If you are growing for leaf colour rather than flower you need good roots and then a nitrogen based fertilizer.
• I have a semi-shaded area just for variegated plants.
• Often the flowers suffer on these plants as they compete for attention and scarce resources. The bi-coloured phlox or Hydrangeas are an example.

Extraordinary Leaves from amazon.

White Veins

• The white vein is caused by the absence of chlorophyll-bearing cells.
• Most commonly the cells are incapable of receiving adequate carbon dioxide so are not equipped for photosynthesis.
• Leaves with white veins are not botanically classified as variegated, although they are sometimes also grown as horticultural oddities.

Variegated Houseplants

• Indoor plants are often grown for the beauty of the leaf form and colour.
• Begonia rex, Codiaeum and other tips
• Encourage new leaf production by pinching out flowers and growing tips.

See also 

• Top Five Variegated Bamboo
• Variegated shrubs
• More photos of variegated leaves