Create Drama with Variegated Foliage

For drama in the garden, or maybe just for fun, plant something with variegated foliage. I confess I am immediately drawn to any sort of multi-colored foliage, and my garden shows it. Stripes, splotches and spots create interest where flowers are fleeting in my predominantly shady landscape, and a plant with variegation can light up the darkest corner.

Variegation appears as differently colored areas on leaves or stems, often white or gold, but sometimes pink or purple. Some plants have a variety of shades on the same leaf and can rival any flower for color. These types of plants make good focal points, but too many close together can clash or appear jarring. Many variegated plants look good with solid companions or those whose flowers or leaves match the variegated plant's color markings.The white edging of variegated Japanese pittosporum matches the white flowers of native Eurybia divaricata (White wood aster). Note how the aster's radiant form also repeats the form of the pittosporum.One can also combine variegated plants in a small grouping by repeating the variegated color of one plant in different degree or form in another variegated plant.

The white edging of Variegated Plectranthus is repeated in large splashes on the leaves of Stromanthe tricolor.

These oddities may make a plant desirable to plant collectors, but not everyone likes these types of plants. What about you? The following is a sampling of the variegated plants in my garden; certainly not all of them! Most are hardy in my USDA hardiness zone 7b/8a landscape. 1. Heuchera 'Tiramisu' 2. Hosta 'Francis Williams' 3. Zantedeschia albomaculata 4. Calla lily 'Tropicana' 5. Variegated ivy 6. Nandina 'Firepower'

1. Fatshedera 'Angyo Star' 2. Round-lobed Hepatica 3. Persicaria 'Red Dragon' 4. Variegated Pittosporum 5. Acer palmatum 'Butterfly' 6. Hydrangea macrophylla 'Variegata'

1. Hosta 'June' 2. Cornus florida 'Cherokee Sunset' 3. Trillium cuneatum (Sweet Betsy) 4. Japanese Painted Fern 5. Variegated Winter daphne 6. Heuchera 'Green Spice'

1. Heucherella 'Alabama Sunset' 2. Houttuynia 3. Stromanthe 'tricolor' (not hardy) 4. Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' 5. Persian shield (not hardy) 6. Ficus variegata (not hardy)

1. Cercis canadensis 'Whitewater' 2. Variegated acuba 3. Saxifraga stolonifera (Strawberry begonia) 4. Tricyrtis hirta 'variegata' (toad lily) 5. Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki' 6. Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'

What do you think about variegated foliage? Are there some that you love? Make you cringe? My opinion is there must be at least one for everyone. Or in my case, at least thirty!

Have a great week! Deb

Amazing Lichens

A storm brought down this decayed tree limb recently. The flat orange growth spreading on this limb, as well as the blue-green growths, are forms of lichen.It supports a large colony of lichens. I have always been amazed by these growths. 

Lichens do not cause harm to a tree, but they can be a sign of poor health. They are not parasitic but are opportunistic, taking advantage of poor growth and open light from thinning branches. They get their nutrients from the atmosphere, rather than from their hosts or from the soil. Lichens grow slowly, most only a few millimeters a year. Those that grow upright, such as the coral-like lichen in these photos, can grow up to a couple of centimeters, or a bit less than an inch a year. Given the right host and environmental conditions, they can survive on old trees and rocks for prolonged periods of time, hundreds and even thousands of years!

Lichens are susceptible to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide. The presence of shrubby, hairy and leafy types of lichen is an indicator of good air quality, because these types of lichen are particularly vulnerable to pollution.Theses lichen indicate good air quality in my garden.

Some lichens in forests are important food sources for birds and other animals, and some lichens are useful for humans, providing food and used in producing dyes and perfumes. Currently, research is studying their potential use in antibiotics and sunscreens.