Fatsia japonica ‘Spiders Web’
If you were to ask me if I liked variegated foliage I wouldn’t immediately say yes but then again I wouldn’t immediately say no either. It’s not something I have a firm opinion on and I don’t really understand why some people say such things as ‘I don’t like yellow flowers in my garden’ as there are so many shades of yellow, different shaped flowers and it depends on different light etc. But I like foliage – a lot. So it isn’t that big a leap when you are fascinated with texture, color and form of leaves and how they work together to start to develop an interest in variegation.
Arum
Walking around the garden to take foliage for this monthly meme hosted by Pam over at Digging I realised just how many variegated plants I have and of course at this time of year the variegated plants really come into their own.
Bergenia cordifolia ‘Tubby Andrews’
However, it is clear from these photographs that I prefer the white, grey, green variegations more than the yellow/green variegations. I do like the Bergenia above but the yellow is a pale yellow rather than the bright yellow of plants such as Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’ which I really don’t like at all.
Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium
I find the variation of the variegated foliage in Cyclamen hederifolium particularly fascinating. You do get some amazing patterns and now that my cyclamen are seeding around the garden it will be interesting to see what new leaf patterns form. I really like the top almost silver form and if you look at the Arum picture above you can see some other silver leaves which are of a Pulmonaria seedling, which I am really pleased with and am hoping I will be able to divide.
Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’
And I will finish with my most obvious variegated plant in the garden – Euphorbia characias ‘Silver Swan’ which is always magical when it has rained or there has been a frost or dew.
For more foliage follow up posts visit Pam at Digging in Austin.
