Manyrare plantsare sought after for their bright, colorful variegation.
What Is Plant Variegation?
Some species, such as crotons and coleus, come in many other color combinations.
Prapass Pulsub / Getty Images
Plants can also be variegated with contrasting shades of green.
Want more gardening tips?
How Does Plant Variegation Happen?
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
This means that variegated plants often need more light than others to maintain vigorous growth.
Types of Plant Variegation
Not all plant variegation happens the same way.
There are several types of plant variegation, and not all of them are desirable.
krisanapong detraphiphat / Getty Images
Some are easy to reproduce in plant propagations or divisions, while others are more difficult to control.
Note that natural variegation can actually occur in nature or as a result of plant breeding by humans.
It can show up on leaves or even veins and stems of plants in lighter, contrasting shades.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Viral Variegation
Sometimes, variegation doesn’t happen because of inherited traits or chance mutations.
Instead, it’s because of a viral infection in the plant.
The plant may be otherwise healthy or sustain damage from the viral infection.
tbgrant / Getty Images
For example, the tomato mosaic virus harms tomato plants while also creating a mottled appearance on leaves.
A disease called hosta virus x affects the foliage of hostas.
These low-maintenance, adaptable plants are ideal for beginners and trail beautifully from hanging baskets.
Its wide, shiny leaves are edged with irregular areas of cream, pale green, and pink.
It’s not possible to force a plant to become variegated.
It’s possible for variegated plants to revert, or lose their special coloring and go back to green.
Lack of light and stress are two factors that will make this more likely.
