Variegated tapioca is a landscape thriller
The variegated tapioca is an incredibly showy plant, a tropical that can thrill as an annual and that almost everyone can revel in the exotic gold, cream and green variegation borne on each and every palmate leaf.
Variegated tapioca is It is native to South America and indeed is cooked and eaten but carries an extreme warning, only if you know what you are doing. Better, though, just treasure it for its stunning look in the garden.
In frost-free areas it can reach over seven feet tall and the boldly variegated foliage starts reddish-pink when young but quickly reaches enormous status with deeply lobed, even palmate with gold, cream and green leaves reaching eight
inches in width.
Fertile, well-drained soil will give you the best landscape performance. If you have tight clay soil, incorporate three to four inches of organic matter like peat, compost or humus. This will provide the necessary aeration for good root expansion yet allow for suitable moisture holding capacity. This is one of those great plants able to tolerate acidic or alkaline conditions.
For those idyllic tropical containers on the porch or patio, do not skimp on potting soil. Forget the 40-pound bargain brand and purchase a bag that sold by the cubic foot and is light and fluffy, containing controlled release fertilizer.
Continued feeding will play an important role in your success. In the landscape feed with light monthly applications of a slow released blend like a 12-6-6 or 10-10-10. In containers, you’ll want to feed with a dilute water soluble liquid every other week or use controlled release granules per formula recommendation.
Pay attention to supplemental irrigation during prolonged dry periods and maintain a layer of mulch. Should your variegated tapioca send up an all-green sprout or shoot, prune it off immediately because it will become more vigorous and dominant.