Plants with variegated leaves attract a lot of attention for their high ornamental value. The care that variegated plants need is somewhat different from those with green leaves, since by not having chlorophyll on the entire surface of the leaf, the work of breathing is a little more complicated.
New cultivars, most of them man-made, appear every time to meet the existing demand.
Variegated plants are those in which on the surface of the leaf, you can clearly distinguish two or more colors. Variegated plants are also considered those that do not have a green stem, such as the succulent Euphorbia lactea, which has a white stem.
The care they need is very peculiar. Usually, we should place them in a place with a lot of light, but without direct sun, as it could burn the leaves. Of course, there are exceptions. The Coleos, Evónimos, Crotones,… can live if they receive direct light.
They are plants that need more light than an ordinary plant since the yellow or white parts of the leaf are at the expense of the green parts. Only in the latter can we find clorofila, the main responsible for the plant to photosynthesize and, as a consequence, breathe. If they don't get enough light, they won't grow properly.
Most of these plants are found in places that enjoy a warm, tropical climate. However, more and more cultivars with variegated leaves of plants from cold climates appear, such as the Acer negundo 'Aureovariegatum', or even Japanese maples which amaze many people around the world.
Some plants with variegated leaves are:
Eponymous
Croton
Dieffenbachia
Acer palmatum 'Butterfly'
Acer negundo 'Aureovariegatum'
Image - Moros River, Green Guide
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