The Mail on Sunday

Add some OOMPH!

Dank, shady spots? Chunky variegated foliage will…

- Martyn Cox

WHEN lockdown measures were l i f t ed back in July, I treated myself to a day out at a nursery that specialise­s in architectu­ral plants. My goal was to find something unique that would add some oomph to a shady corner, and it wasn’t long before I settled on a chunky specimen of Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’.

A fairly recent introducti­on, this evergreen shrub has a rounded shape and green palmate leaves that are liberally speckled with white, gi vi ng t he i mpression that it’s been dusted with icing sugar. It’s relatively slow-growing but is already starting to work its magic by helping to illuminate a dimly lit spot.

The reason for divulging details of my shopping expedition is that it shows my opinion of variegated plants has shifted remarkably.

In the past I had a deep dislike for anything spotted, striped or splashed, and wouldn’t have let something with two- tone leaves through the front gate, let alone find space for it in a bed.

These days I ’ m much more open-minded about the benefits of variegated plants.

There are s pecies t hat will brighten shade, while others make brilliant focal points or will add definition to displays. Evergreen

Check out wedding cake tree… it’s a real show-stopper

ones come into their own during winter, providing interest when there’s little else around.

Variegatio­n is usually caused by a mutation that prevents or inhibits cells from producing chlorophyl­l, the green pigment that is essential for photosynth­esis. A complete lack of chlorophyl­l leads to white areas forming, while orange, yellow and light green variegatio­n results from reduced levels.

Remarkably, there are very few examples of variegated plants in nature. Most two-tone species are borne in cultivatio­n, either in nurseries or gardens, and arise from variegated shoots that appear on pure green plants.

If the grower likes their attributes, cuttings are taken and plants grown on for sale.

Many variegated plants are ideal for brightenin­g a murky corner. Spotted laurel (Aucuba japonica ‘February Star’) and Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’ will add muscular presence, while Heuchera ‘ Green Spice’, Lamium ‘ White Nancy’ and Brunnera macrophyll­a ‘Jack Frost’ are good groundcove­r perennials.

Those looking for a show-stopping focal point should check out wedding cake tree (Cornus controvers­a ‘Variegata’) or standard holly (Ilex x altacleren­sis ‘Golden King’). Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’ is a lovely willow with a rounded head of green and cream marbled foliage and new shoots that are pink in spring. Two-tone plants will add visual interest to beds and borders. In a colour-themed white border, perennials with white variegatio­n, such as Pulmonaria ‘Moonshine’ and Hosta ‘Patriot’, will maintain the constant link in the planting. Similarly, plants with yellow or gold variegatio­n suit a yellowthem­ed border.

For my money, variegated plants can take gardens to another level, but in the wrong hands they can have the opposite effect. Lots of different variegated plants set within the same space looks awful, so use prudently, and never plant gold and silver variegated plants close together – they will clash!

A problem with some variegated plants is that they are prone to reversion, a growth disorder that results in the appearance of pure green shoots. Apart from spoiling the overall look, these sprigs are more vigorous than variegated ones and will take over the plant if given half a chance.

To prevent this, snip off any green shoots at the main stem or base of the plant, or prune back into wood that contains variegated foliage. Among plants most likely to be affected are ceanothus, elaeagnus, euonymus, hollies, phormiums, privet and some maples, such as Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’.

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 ??  ?? IMPACT: The holly hybrid Ilex x altacleren­sis Golden King. Top: Fatsia japonica Spider’s Web
IMPACT: The holly hybrid Ilex x altacleren­sis Golden King. Top: Fatsia japonica Spider’s Web

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