Variegated succulents are those that have striations, dots, spatters, shadings, or other patterns on any region of their body. Most of the time, people misunderstand variegated plants and assume they simply have striped leaves. However, the same structure of their leaves, stems, blossoms, or trunk may have different hues. The term “variegated succulents” refers to plants with two or three colors. Although it is not required to have a distinct line or marking for each color, the colorful patterns are either lighter hues of green or other colors.
Baby succulents or older plants may exhibit variegation, which is more pronounced with time and exposure to sunlight.
What does succulent “variegated” mean?
Variegation is the development of distinct colored zones on the leaves and stems as a result of some plant cells lacking green chlorophyll. Any plant is typically referred to as variegated if it contains different-colored leaves, stalks, blooms, or trunks within the same structure. It may appear in a variety of patterns, including stripes, dots, blotches, spatters, and shadings.
The Variegated String of Buttons is a good example of a variegated succulent; it has fine shading of different colors within each leaf, which becomes more apparent with age and sun exposure.
Why do succulents develop different colors?
Any plant’s leaves contain the pigment chlorophyll, which enables it to absorb light and use it to generate energy for photosynthesis. Variation, on the other hand, results from an unequal distribution of this chlorophyll and other pigments.
Chlorophyll is the substance that gives leaves their characteristic green color. When you notice varying shades of green, white, or yellow borders or lines, it is because there is a lower concentration of chlorophyll in those regions than there is in the leaf’s greener regions. Because they don’t have an even distribution of chlorophyll to shield them from the sun, plants with this type of variegation are more susceptible to sunburn. For this reason, a lot of plants with green/white or green/yellow leaves are excellent choices for shadow gardens. However, you’ll want to aim for bright but indirect light rather than complete shade with this variety of variegated succulent.
made especially for succulents:
How do plants get different colors?
Taking cuttings from branches with more blotchy variegation in the leaf—as opposed to the all-white type (which lacks chlorophyll)—and simply increasing the number of plants will result in a more traditional and stable variegation. Volume production in this approach takes a lot longer.
Why are colored succulents so pricey?
Essentially, variegated plants require more light than completely green plants and often grow much, much slower since they have less surface area to photosynthesise with and make the sugars they need for development and repair. This is the reason they are currently so expensive and in high demand! A plant develops more slowly and takes longer to propagate the stronger the variegation.
When it develops, plants with strong variegation have a major evolutionary disadvantage over fully green plants because they cannot photosynthesise as effectively. Strong variegation is a rare occurrence in nature. The variegated plants you see online fetching exorbitant prices are all cultivated, which means that human beings have developed them using vegetative propagation to preserve the variegated coloring.
Can you create a variegated plant?
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When two tissues with different genetic compositions are present close to one another, houseplants develop chimeric variegation. This occasionally causes new colorful patterns to appear on a plant’s leaves and blooms.
Plant collectors have a strong preference for variegated indoor plants, which can fetch some incredibly high prices. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that many indoor gardeners question if it is possible to cause the color differences that could raise the value of their plant stock.
The good news is that using a variety of techniques, including chemical mutagens (like ethyl methanesulfonate), ionizing radiation exposure (like X-Rays and gamma rays), and gene transposition from one plant to another, it is possible to induce the creation of variegated tissues in houseplants.
The bad news is that it would not be possible (or even safe) to try to induce variegation in plants using either of these ways at home because it is a complicated procedure. As an indoor gardener, the simplest technique to get a variegated plant still involves patiently waiting for a special genotype to emerge on its own.
In the sections that follow, we’ll examine a few techniques for inducing variegation in indoor plants and explain why they can be too demanding for casual houseplant hobbyists.
Where can I find pink succulents?
Some succulents may undergo changes or lose the vivid hues they had when they were first purchased. Some plants may gradually turn green in a few months, especially if they are planted in the shade or in locations with poor natural lighting. For succulents to “stress” and show off their vibrant hues, they require intense sunlight all day long or at least six hours every day. To ensure that your succulent plants receive adequate sunlight, thrive indoors, and keep their brilliant red/pink hue, you must have windows that face south. Make sure there are no obstructions to natural sunlight for your succulents, such as trees or structures.  
Can variegated succulents be propagated?
Any plant with a variegated leaf, including variegated succulents, can develop in a number of ways. Genetic mutations are the main cause of variation. It is a genetic accident rather than a response to the environment of the plant. Some of these colorful mutations will be passed on to the progeny of these mutant plants. These are hereditary variations, thus whether the kids come from seeds or cuttings, they will acquire the coloration of their parents. Many will not genetically pass on the variation to their progeny. As they have two different chromosome types, they are referred to as “chimerashave. In this situation, stem cuttings or leaf propagation from a variegated leaf are the only ways to keep the variegation in the progeny.
The distinct colour will frequently not persist when variegation mutation occurs in the wild. It will either not be able to produce enough chlorophyll to support itself, or the solidly green parts of the plant will perform better than the variegated ones. However, when cultivating a plant, growers will choose a variegated plant for extra attention and breeding. While some variegated succulents do need extra attention, many are already well-cared for just by being in your yard.
A fatal virus is another factor that might contribute to vivid variegation. To create stable variegates for sale, hybridizers have worked hard to isolate some viruses, such as the canna mosaic virus.
Reflective Variegation
Another type of variegation is when certain portions of the leaf reflect more light than other parts of the leaf, causing the color to shift rather than distinct pigments in the leaf’s flesh. These reflective variegates could contain air bubbles or “leaf windows just below the leaf’s surface give the foliage a silvery appearance. Or the surface of the leaf may develop fine white or silver hairs or patterns, giving it a multicolored appearance. Amazing Agave victoriae-reginae, “A beautiful illustration of a reflected variegated succulent is the Queen Victoria Agave. A chalky white material on the leaf surface creates the detailed white tracings on the leaves. These plants are genetic variegates, which means that their offspring inherit their appearance.
Possible Defensive Value to Variegation?
Some scientists hypothesize that some variegated succulents’ elaborate tracings may constitute a protective mechanism. It is thought that these tracings may imitate the work of leaf miners or other equally destructive pests and persuade the territorial insects to ignore these plants. Undoubtedly, it is feasible. Definitely more scientific than the notion that this amazing Echeveria nodulosa is merely for display. You can understand why some people could believe this and how this plant came to be known as “painted echeveria.”
Sue Morton has my appreciation for sharing this picture. Visit Sue’s Facebook page, Succulents by Sue, to see her lovely succulent arrangements.
Caring for Variegated Succulents
A plant with variegated leaves may seem to require more sunlight to make up for the absence of chlorophyll. Actually, most variegated succulents require a little bit extra protection from direct sunlight because chlorophyll also shields the leaf from sunburn. They are less tolerant of shadow than their greener relatives, though, perhaps because to their lesser synthesis of photosynthesizing chlorophyll. Your yellow and white variegated plants require bright, indirect light during the hottest time of the day and year. The best conditions for this remarkable variegated Haworthia cymbiformis are indoors. I appreciate Carol Piner allowing me to use her picture. She cultivates and arranges succulents, and she is an amazing artist. Visit Carol Piner’s Facebook page to view her lovely creations!
Succulents that are variegated because of a lack of chlorophyll are also a little more sensitive to temperature fluctuations than solid-green varieties. The green pigment reduces the effects of heat and cold stress in the same way as it shields the plant from sunburn. the plant’s variegated variety. Variegated leaf plants frequently have a smaller range of cold resistance than solid green species.
Unlike its more cold-hardy, full sun cousins, the beautiful variegated Agave lonphantha ‘Quadricolor’ thrives in zones 8 to 10 and in partial sun. Isn’t it remarkable?
Growing Variegated Succulents
Succulents with genetically stable variegation thrive when grown from seeds, division, cuttings, or leaves (so long as the plant can be propagated by each means). Compared to their brothers with solid colors, variegated plants typically develop more slowly and mature at a smaller size. When choosing plants for your garden or containers, keep this in mind.
Encouraging Variegation in Succulents
Some plants with variegation have very precise variegation patterns. They follow a particular pattern, just like the Queen Victoria Agave up top. The variegated leaf, however, can vary significantly from one twig or branch to the next in most plants, as can be seen on this Crassula ovata ‘Tricolor’. A variegated succulent’s branch or pup will frequently “revert” or lose its variegation. On a variegated plant, you would notice the development of solid green leaves. Succulent pups are the tiny succulents that sprout at the base. If the green branches or pups are left intact, they will eventually outgrow the variegated mother plant and can turn the entire plant green.
If your succulent with multiple colors starts to revert, you can take action to preserve it vibrant. Remove any growth that is solidly pigmented. Reduce the branch to a side branch with different colors. Remove any puppies with solid colors. Give the plant a little more love. Protect the plant if it was growing in full sun, a lot of shadow, unusually high or low temperatures, or if it has been too dry for an extended period of time. Even though I like to stress succulents to bring out more color, doing so can make a variegated succulent go back to its original hue. In this instance, the plant produces more chlorophyll to meet its requirement for more resources, losing the lovely color diversity you adore in the process.
On the other hand, a solid-colored succulent might sporadically display variegation. As mentioned above, this could be a virus or an indication of difficulty caused by insects. Keep a keen eye out for insect activity and the state of the plant in general. If pathology has been ruled out and your solid-colored succulent displays a leaf, branch, or pup with attractive variegation, by all means, propagate it! Give a stem cutting special attention. Once it has taken root, provide it with bright, indirect light and watch for any symptoms of stress.
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know variegated succulents a little better. They are one of my personal favorites. Never be hesitant to increase them! In general, there is no need to baby them; they only require a little more attention than other varieties. Simply leave a comment on this post if you have any queries or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you, and I’ll reply straight away!
P.P.S. Would you consider joining my Facebook group for cactus lovers? We discuss design, identification, propagation, and care of succulents. They’re a friendly bunch who would love to meet you!
Variegated plants: are they natural?
Understanding the many types and reasons of variegation is essential for both caring for variegated specimens and understanding why many of them are so rare and difficult to find. There are many different varieties of variegated indoor plants.
Types of Variegated Indoor Plants
When you think about variegated indoor plants, you probably picture the sporadic patches, streaks, and dots of white that are distinctive to Variegated Monstera. However, there are other varieties of variegation that seem quite dissimilar and have quite different causes.
The most typical type of variegation is chimeral variegation. This type of variegation, which is brought on by a genetic mutation, manifests as two separate chromosomal make-ups in a single plant, one of which can synthesize chlorophyll while the other cannot. A plant that has white or yellow zones mixed in with its solid green shape is the consequence; this type of plant is known as a chimera. One example of this chimera is variegated Monstera deliciosa.
Chimeral variegation can occasionally be dispersed across the plant at random. This is the case, for instance, with Variegated Monstera, where you may see white or yellow spots and splotches all over the leaves, almost like paint splatters, while some leaves emerge fully green or white. As an alternative, chimeral variegation may occasionally be uniform throughout the entire plant and have symmetrical leaf patterns.
The variegated shape may be stable or unstable, depending on the plant and the reason for the variegation, which is an important point to remember. Variegated plants that are unstable may revert to their pure green form. Additionally, variegated plants may be less robust; for instance, Variegated Monstera leaves that emerge completely white cannot photosynthesize, so they usually don’t persist very long.
Because only specific plants with chimeral variegation can be successfully propagated from stem cuttings and no chimera will result, some variegated cultivars or species are difficult to find “True to type plants come from root cuttings, leaf cuttings, or seeds that display the same phenotype—in this case, variegation. This means that there are few and frequently failed possibilities to propagate this particular variety of variegated plant.
Maybe what makes chimera plants so alluring is their transient existence?
Some variegated plants, also known as pigmented or natural variation, are actually naturally patterned patterns rather than mutants. Some of our favorite indoor plants with variegation have this pattern, and fortunately, unlike chimera, this sort of variegation is encoded in the species’ or cultivar’s DNA and handed down from one generation to the next.
a collection of Marantaceae plants with pattern variegation, including Calathea and Ctenanthe
Consider the pigmented variegation on the lanceolate, green leaves of Calathea lancifolia (Rattlesnake Calathea), which has a consistent patterning of purple dots. Similar Pattern-Gene variegation is present in Ctenanthe burle-marxii (Fishbone Prayer Plant) and other Marantaceae family members.
While a species may naturally exhibit some degree of variegation, producers frequently choose for patterning and develop hybrids to emphasize and manipulate this. The outcome is a plant variation known as a cultivar, which was developed through selective breeding and cultivated.
Blister or reflected variegation is a different type of variegation that is frequently observed in our favorite indoor plants. In this kind of plant, the lowest layers of the leaves, which are colored, and the upper, which are not pigmented, generate tiny air spaces. These transparent spaces reflect light as it strikes them, giving the leaves a silvery look.
One such plant that displays this reflected variegation is watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia, below). The plant’s nickname-giving silvery stripes are really strips of reflective air pockets! However, this kind of variegation doesn’t always appear symmetrically; for instance, blister variegation is also responsible for the sporadic spots on the leaves of Scindapsus pictus (also known as Satin Pothos, above).
We think reflecting variegation to be particularly appealing when it appears along the leaf veins. This is frequently observed in aroid plants like Philodendrons, Alocasias, and Anthuriums. For instance, the leaf veins of Philodendron gloriosum, Alocasia frydek, and Anthurium clarinervium all exhibit reflective/blister variegation. Stunning, no?
Some variegated leaves, like the Mosaic virus, are genuinely brought on by viruses. Even while it’s not very frequent, a virus can occasionally develop a favorable variation that can be passed on to others. One plant with variegation that exhibits this viral variegation, though it is not an indoor plant, is a particular variety of Hosta.
In the world of plants, the term “variegation” is used quite loosely. In the end, any plant with multiple hues might be referred to as variegated. The word “variegated” is derived from the latin word variegatus, which “made up of several kinds or colors.
We hope you are now better equipped to understand why plants look the way they do and why some variegated indoor plants are so difficult to find, whether you use the term in its loose interpretation to describe patterned or multicolored leaves or dive into the more technical causes of variegation described above (and it gets wayyyy more technical and scientific if you want to go down that roadwe’re no botanists, just fascinated!).
One more thing to keep in mind as you negotiate the complex world of plant variation. The italicized word variegata, which appears as the second half of a latin plant name, designates a species that is found in the wild with variegation, such as Aloe variegata. However, variegated plants are cultivated far more frequently. This would be stated in single quote marks with the word “Variegata” capitalized.
There are two cultivars of variegated Monstera that we are aware of. One is called “Albo-Variegata,” which occasionally has leaves that are entirely or partially white and has white paint-like splotches on its leaves. The second variety is called “Thai Constellation” (above), and its leaves often have a creamy-yellow variegation with considerably smaller splotches or dots.