Variegated plants - photo, name and description
Contents ✓
CHOOSING PESTROLES FOR SUN AND SHADOW
CHLOROPHYLL IS LIFE
As you know, chlorophyll gives plants green color. With its uneven distribution, the leaf plate becomes variegated. So, in places with a rich green color, there is a lot of chlorophyll, in the lighter parts of the leaf - less, and where white stripes or spots appear, this pigment is completely absent. But chlorophyll affects not only the coloring of the leaf, it participates in the processes of photosynthesis vital for the plant. White areas of the leaf blade are not able to provide the plant with nutrition.
If the leaf is painted in a different color, for example, purple, orange, brown, then this means that chlorophyll is present in the tissues of the leaf plate, but along with it there are other pigments, they just overshadow the green color. That is, such a leaf is capable of photosynthesizing, and the plant can develop normally.
Variegated, or variegated (from English variegated - "colorful, variegated"), plants stand out noticeably against the background of their green counterparts. Moreover, the leafiness can be expressed not only by white specks, spots and stripes. This group also includes those plants whose leaves have silver, yellow, purple, brown and other colors in their palette.
COLOR FILLING FLAW
Why do variegated plants appear? According to scientists, the causes of the abnormal color of the leaves lie in mutations that lead to a violation of chlorophyll synthesis and cause a change in the color of the leaf plate.
One of the most common causes of variegated plants is genetic expression. As you know, all plant cells have genes that are responsible for the production of a particular pigment. But in some cases, the cell will produce this dye only being in a certain place on the sheet plate.
This is how natural plant species received their variegated color - for example, crocuses with a white stripe running along the midrib of a leaf, kandyks, painted with reddish-brown spots.
Plants that have received their color due to gene expression transmit variegation both during vegetative (cuttings, leaves) and seed propagation.
Another reason for the emergence of variegated plants is associated with chimerism. This term is taken from ancient Greek mythology and denotes a monster with three different heads - a lion, a goat and a snake. And in biology, chimeras are called plants, in the body of which there are two or more types of dissimilar cells.
With variegation caused by chimerism, a colony of cells is formed in the leaf that are colored differently and have changed their color due to mutation. Normal cells continue to exist and multiply next to them. For this reason, some parts of the leaf contain chlorophyll, while others have little or no chlorophyll.
Chimera plants can arise from natural accidental mutation, either as a product of selection, or as a result of grafting.
Variegated plants, resulting from chimerism, transfer their color, as a rule, only when dividing or cutting.
See also: Variegated plants - photos and names
CHOOSING PESTROLES FOR SHADOW, SHADOW AND SUN
Illumination is one of the most important conditions for plant life. And in the case of variegated forms and varieties, the intensity of light is often of decisive importance: some plants exhibit the brightest color in the shade, and lose it in the sun, while others need partial shade to preserve decorativeness. It is quite difficult to change the level of illumination in the garden, so you have to adapt to what is, choosing an assortment of variegated plants based on specific conditions.
PESTROLES FOR SEMI-SHAPED
GEYHERA
It was once grown for flowers, but then breeders turned their attention to leaves. As a result, decorative leafy varieties of a completely new look with an unusually spectacular appearance appeared.
Heucher leaves are dense, leathery, with 5-9 rounded or pointed lobes. They leave alive under the snow and remain until spring, after which they are replaced by new ones. Therefore, most of these plants are decorative for almost the entire season. Perhaps, only from under the snow they appear slightly dented, but after a couple of weeks they have time to recover.
Geuchera of the Beauty Color variety delights with its leaves with silvery spots, purple veins and an emerald border. Forms a very dense bush. The flowers of the plant are light pink, located on peduncles, the height of which reaches 40 cm. The variety was obtained by selecting the brightest specimens of American Heuchera from the wild and has an interesting feature to react to a stressful situation associated with a change in season. So, in the fall, a thin, bright coral border often appears along the edge of the leaves.
The leaves of Heuchera variety Hercules are very reminiscent of malachite: a light intricate speckled pattern appears on a dark green background. Such expressive foliage stands out well even in the shade of trees, giving sophistication to simple compositions. Flowers are rich ruby color, plant height within 20-40 cm.
The large foliage of the Mint Frost variety is green with visible silvery spots. With the first autumn frosts, pink tints are added, and the plant takes on a silvery-bronze color.
Heuchera of the Crème Brлеlée variety flaunts with orange leaves in spring and red in summer. The height of the bush barely reaches 40 cm, cream-colored flowers appear on the plant in July.
Geiger Amber Waves - the most popular undersized variety with amber leaves that have a corrugated surface. The top side of the leaf is golden and the bottom is pink. The plant is most decorative in partial shade, in an open sunny place the foliage suffers from burns and fades, and in the dense shade the leaves acquire greenish tints. The variety is compact, about 20 cm high, the bushes grow up to 40 cm in diameter. In the middle of summer, cream-colored flowers appear on the Heuchera.
SPOTTED CLEAR
Spotted lambs grow rather quickly, forming elegant curtains, which retain their decorative effect until the very frost and often leave with leaves in winter. Lambes feel great in partial shade, are undemanding to the soil and are unpretentious in care. From time to time, they need light haircuts to help maintain a tidy look and encourage lush growth.
The root system of the spotted speckles is superficial. The stems of the plant are usually recumbent, tetrahedral, pubescent, they branch strongly and take root spontaneously at the nodes. Leaves are ovate, opposite, serrate along the edge, attached to long petioles. The length of the sheet plate is 3-9 cm, the width is 3 cm.
Peduncles are formed in internodes. Flowers are small, pink, purple or white, arranged in false whorls. Flowering usually begins in May and lasts until October.
Lamb spotted variety Pink Pewter - with serrated silvery-white leaves with dark green edges. The stems of the plant are recumbent, branched, form extensive clumps about 18 cm high. The flowers are small, pink, collected in inflorescences, appear in May-June.
White Nancy Lamb - with silvery leaves with a narrow dark green stripe around the edges. The plant does not exceed 15 cm in height, and grows up to 50 cm wide. White flowers appear in early June.
TRILLIUM
Trilliums are great for partial shade. True, it should be borne in mind that they do not reach their peak of decorativeness immediately, but over the years, as the rhizomes grow. But on the other hand, they do not need transplants for a long time. It is best to plant plants in groups of several.
Trilliums are attractive throughout their youth due to their neon foliage, which in southern species looks like a marble mosaic of irregular dark and light spots.
The flowers of the plant are also very beautiful, which usually appear in the second half of May - early June, and at the end of summer on trilliu me you can see fruits - dark red berries.
Trillium Sessili is a compact plant up to 25 cm high with leaves up to 10 cm long and about 8 cm wide. The foliage is painted with whitish, pale green and bronze spots. The flowers, which appear in May, have maroon petals pointed at the ends and spread a spicy scent.
See also: Decorative-leaved houseplants - growing and care in winter
HOST
The hosts are unusually diverse not only in the size and shape of the leaves, but also in their color. Groups are distinguished with blue, yellow leaves, with a light edging (white or yellow), a lighter middle, with spotty yellow-green leaves.
Many hosts can grow in dense shade, however, the growth rate slows down under such conditions, the leaves are larger, and the bush itself is high. The optimal level of illumination for plants, especially for variegated forms, is partial shade. It is desirable that hosts receive at least 2-3 hours of morning or evening sun.
Hosta Golden Meadows can grow up to 60 cm in height. The leaves are quite dense and large, bluish-green in color, with a contrasting center and wavy edges. The color of the leaf core changes during the season: in the spring it is golden, by the middle of summer it becomes creamy, and then gradually turns green.
Hosta dwarf variety Rememba Mi reaches a height of 25-30 cm. The main tone of the leaves is creamy white, along the edge there is a green border.
Bush hosts varieties Francis Williams can reach a height of 80 cm. Leaves are dense, with strong venation, blue-green color with a bluish bloom. A wide irregular yellow border runs along the edge of the sheet.
Zelenchuk of the German Pride variety grows even more slowly. It has jagged silvery leaves, on which a network of dark green veins stands out brightly.
TIARELLA HEARTHOUS
It is appreciated by flower growers for its ability to grow well even in dense shade and high frost resistance. Quickly creates low, dense carpets, expanding with creeping and rooting shoots, ideal for forest areas.
The leaves are round, heart-shaped.
Tyarella hearty - a winter-green plant, its foliage survives until spring and only with the beginning of growth is gradually replaced by a new one. Thiarella retains its decorative effect throughout the season: in spring, the plant is abundantly decorated with pinkish or white columns of inflorescences, and then, until winter, with leaves of various colors.
Many tiarellas are characterized by the presence of red, brown and even almost black patterns on the elderly leaf. In some varieties, the leaves at the end of autumn change color to crimson, dark red or purple and retain this shade until spring.
In thiarella, new buds are formed below the soil surface, so the plant can do without transplantation and rejuvenation for a long time, expanding in breadth.
Tiarella varieties Black Velvet are characterized by very fast growth, adult plants reach a height of 30-45 cm. Milky white flowers, collected in dense inflorescences-candles, appear in May and last until July. The leaves of the plant are green with a noticeable dark purple pattern.
Leaves thiarella varieties Suga and Spice dentate, dissected, dark green with strong veins and a burgundy brown center. Small creamy pink flowers appear in May-June.
Ivy-lobe
A perennial plant with a creeping root system. The stem of the budra is branched, long (20-50 cm), pubescent in places with short hairs. The leaves are rounded-reniform, large-crowned, located on long petioles. The flowers are bluish-purple or bluish-lilac, small, tubular, two-lipped, sitting on rising flowering shoots. In nature, the plant is often found in mixed forests, where it grows rather quickly.
The decorative form of ivy-shaped budra Variegata is widely used in shady gardens. This plant is also distinguished by its fast growth, forms a continuous carpet 5-8 cm high from rounded leaves with a white edging.
TOLMIEIA MENZIS
The low-growing plant, which forms bushes up to 40 cm in diameter, is often grown as a house plant, but grows well in the open field in shady areas. The inflorescences of tolmia are inconspicuous, in the form of spikelets with small creamy flowers. The most decorative value is represented by leaves with dark green frequent veins, pointed tips and heart-shaped notches at the base.
The plant has one interesting feature: immature rosettes of a pair of leaves on a massive shoot bend down and, in contact with the ground, quickly take root with the help of rapidly developing rudimentary roots.
The most popular Menzies' tolmiya of the Tufts Gold variety, the leaf plates of which are dotted with dense small yellow specks.
PESTROLES FOR THE SUN
BYZANTINE CLEANER
This plant prefers open, sunny areas and well-drained soil. The Byzantine chastetus retains its charming appearance throughout the season and goes into winter with rosettes of leaves. Straight or branchy shoots can reach a height of 60 cm. Small inflorescences of pink, purple or blue hue represent a false ear and adorn the plant from May to August. But a special decorative effect is given to the purse by the fleshy, densely peppered silvery leaves, because of which it is called “sheep's ears”.
The cultivar Primroz Heron stands out for its unusual leaf color - with a predominance of golden-green tones, which changes during the season. In early spring, the foliage is greenish-yellow, at the height of summer it is silvery-green, and in autumn it becomes yellowish-green.
THYME, LEMON-Smelling
A pleasant citrus aroma exudes not only flowers, but also leaves. This steppe plant loves the abundance of the sun and is unpretentious to growing conditions. Low, slightly pubescent stem can be straight or branched. Small, up to 1 cm long, smooth leaves are located on strong petioles and are slightly curved inward. Bell-shaped flowers (up to 4 mm) form an inflorescence-ear.
Height of popular thyme variety Silver Cain reaches 20 cm, the plant does not have a high growth rate. Dark green leaves are bordered by a white stripe.
Have a lemon-scented thyme Golden Dwarf the color of the leaf plate is light green, with wide yellow stripes on it. Purple flowers appear in June-July.
CUT LIVE
It grows well in partial shade, but the contrasting color of the leaves is best manifested when planted in a sunny place.
Leaves of the creeping tenacious are soft, oval, with wavy edges, short pubescent. Basal leaves are collected in rosettes, from which long rooting shoots grow. Inflorescences - spike-shaped bright blue candles - appear on the plant in May-June and last for 3 weeks.
One of the most spectacular varieties is Multicolor. Leaves of mixed color, which are mottled with irregularly scattered cream, green, purple and brown spots.
No less delightful is the variety of the creeping Burgundy Gpou - the outer leaves are gray-green with an uneven cream border, and the leaves in the center of the rosette are bright pink.
Under favorable growing conditions, the spotted lamb can grow aggressively, displacing the plants growing in the neighborhood.
FERTILIZER WILL NOT HELP
On the forums of flower growers, disputes and discussions often flare up about how you can influence the variegation of plants, increase the number of variegated segments on the leaves. You can often see recommendations to apply some fertilizers and refuse others. Nevertheless, none of these tips are effective. Perhaps the only effective way is to remove completely green shoots, allowing variegated ones to develop.
WHO PAINTED THE LEAVES?
There are many pigments in the organs of a plant that are responsible for its color. There are 3 main groups of such "dyes": chlorophyll, carotenoids and flavonoids. Chlorophyll turns the leaves into their familiar green color.
Among carotenoids, there are 2 main subgroups - carotenes and xanthophils. These pigments give yellow, orange and red color. Flavonoids are distributed into anthocyanins, which give plant cells a red, blue, or purple color, and flavones (yellow).
© Author: Nina Vershinina
See also: Plants decorative cereals - photos and names
PETROL PERENNIALS - VIDEO
Below other entries on the topic "Dacha and garden - with their own hands"
- Turnip: when to plant and when to dig out - planting and care, tips and reviews
- What sorts of pumpkins I advise to grow
- Plum-cherry plum (photo) cultivation and varieties
- Anis - agricultural cultivation and care
- Pittosporum (photo) growing at home, planting and care
- Plant lyuffa (photo) - cultivation on a loofah
- Cornflower - cultivation and recipes of dishes from sweet potato
- Turkish lemon balm (photo) cultivation and beneficial properties of snakehead
- Lettuce (photo) species and varieties, planting and care
- All about the aromas and uses of basil - varieties and descriptions
Subscribe to updates in our groups and share.
Let's be friends!
#
We planted a tanning skumpia in the spring of last year, when the threat of recurrent frosts had passed. The plant is unpretentious, it feels good even on stony soil, but it does not differ in winter hardiness. Therefore, towards the end of autumn, I mulch the trunk circle with a thick layer of peat or humus. In case of a harsh winter, you additionally need to cover the young seedling with non-woven material.
#
The unpretentious Thunberg barberry was planted in October on an open sunny area. A 10 cm layer of sand was poured at the bottom of the landing pit.
Water the plant regularly, gently loosen the soil in the near-stem circle. We feed only once a year, at the end of April, with complex mineral fertilizer (according to the instructions). The bush grows quickly, so we do not tighten with formative pruning.
#
Two years ago, in mid-autumn, a red maple sapling was planted in a slightly shaded area with fertile breathable soil. At the bottom of the planting pit, a crushed stone drainage was laid with a layer of 8 cm.
In the spring, at the end of April, we feed the tree with complex mineral fertilizer (according to the instructions) and carry out sanitary pruning. Water as needed (about 15-20 liters of settled water per plant).