[medit-plants] Re: Interesting variegated shrub

---

Hi Steve, 

Yes, this is mirror plant, Coprosma repens, probably a recent hybrid. The variegation in the plant you photographed is unstable, sometimes showing no dark green at all. This is often the case with variegated cultivars. In fact, unstable ones sometimes send up an all-green shoot that, because it has more chlorophyll than the variegated part, is more vigorous, and, unless it is pruned out, can take over the plant.

I wrote about Coprosma Repens in my 2010 book Wildly Successful Plants. At that time there was a cultivar called 'Marble Queen' that looks very much like the one you saw, that is, leaves green-centered with green-speckled white, or cream, edges. This may very well be it. 

Coprosma Repens is an interesting shrub, from New Zealand, beloved of Victorians. I hope you'll be able to read what I wrote about its botany, history, and horticulture in my book.

Best wishes,

Pam Peirce

pampeirce.com

415-5840993

On Monday, June 22, 2020, 01:33:34 PM PDT, Steven Vance <s*@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Pam,

I understand. iPhone images can be ridiculously large (at least IMHO).  Perhaps this one works for you?

Steve

On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 11:21 AM Pamela K Peirce <p*@att.net> wrote:

I cannot view your photo. Will you please reduce its size? An image to send via email can be 72 DPI and about one MB would be fine. Hope you can resend it smaller, as I would like to see it.

Pam Peirce

On Monday, June 22, 2020, 10:57:36 AM PDT, Steven Vance <s*@gmail.com> wrote:

Came across this interesting shrub in a shady garden the other day. Curious as to what the plant might be but also why the leaf colorations vary in this manner? Is it related to the soil, shade, or other factors?

Steve