Help......not sure where to post this!

We have several variegated shrubs that are gradually reverting. I think we have left it to long and that they are beyond saving . But any help/ advice would be wonderful..thanks



These are all different ones...but there are more!
What have we done wrong

 

Hello Upsydaisy, it depends on whether you can stand hacked shrubs while they re-grow! If you trace the plain green shoots back to their source and cut them out, there's a chance that the new shoots will re-grow variegated. It will leave the shrubs looking savaged, though. Unless they're rare or very valuable, it's not really worth it.
Some shrubs are just prone to reverting, others do it if they're stressed by less-than-ideal conditions. If you catch a plant when there are just one or two green shoots, and take them out straight away, they don't divert energy from the weaker variegated shoots. Hope this helps

 

Thanks @noisette47 ....I did wonder about gaining a hacked look!. No they are nothing special so will leave them be.

If I take some more cuttings of the variegated bit will they continue to grow variegated? Took some some last year ,albeit they haven't died on me yet they are still too small to judge success levels


Thanks for taking time to respond. Happy New Year to you

 

I think the first pics are mostly euonymus, I've grown these and they are very prone to reverting, you really need to be on top of them every year to stop it happening.
Often, with these, the variegation can be seen in the stems as well, before it turns brown and woody, so you need to cut back to a point where the variegation is showing on the stem.

Once it gets too bad its probably best to live with it or start again .

Alway propagate from good variegated shoots, but you can't guarantee that they won't revert at some point in the future.

 

Some varieties...even clones....are more likely to revert than others. Euonymous Blondy for example reverts quite readily. Emerald n Gold much more stable in producing just the odd stray green stem.....traced back to its origin and it is easily removed.

Situation seems to play a role too in reversion.....in shade I think it is more likely. I rarely get much when grown in full sun.

Upsy, try to remove the green shoots and see what you are left with. Then in spring prune to encourage density. They soon recover their shape and colour. I look for the best variegated shoots for cuttings....yes, they will take and copy their parents' variegation.

I have quite a few variegated plants here and I love 'em....wouldn't be without them Just a little care and awareness will maintain their variegation. Dont be too eager to dump them

 

Thanks @Verdun. I think some are so far gone that if I cut out all the green bits on a couple of them I would only be left with a branch or two! ( example as in the last pic). Would that be too drastic do you think?If I do cut them out then roughly how long would they take to grow back to a decent size, all ours are fairly large shrubs.

Thanks

 

Thanks @pete . Tomorrow I will have a good look at their stems. I will also look for some potentially good cuttings material.....is this a good time to attempt this?

I realise that this should have been done a long time ago.....but to be honest I was ( am) a little scared of taking such drastic action....but if it works then it's for the best.

This winter it is a lot more noticeable as they don't stand out anymore and brighten up the winter garden in the way that they use to sadly

 

Personally I think semi ripe cuttings in July August are best.
But worth a try if you want more plants.

 

Okey dokey thanks again @pete , I will give that a go as well
I took a closer look at the one in my last pic today and the few remaining variegated leaves were growing from a stem of green ones too....so that one will be best left as it is.

 

You need to nip/snip out all the green-only stuff, Upsydaisy. If you cut flush with the main stem, just leaving the variegated bits, they'll grow more strongly.

 

Thanks @noisette47
Do you think that even the really bad one will recover if we chop out all the green then...or is it too far gone....this is the one I mean , although they are all pretty bad!!

 

Well, it would recover with a bit of TLC. Once the worst frosts are finished, it'll need a nitrogen-based feed (high 'N' factor in the NPK) and regular water through next summer. And vigilance in taking out any new all-green shoots

 

Forgot to add that the yellow bits are growing on stems that also have a lot of green leaves growing on them as well .

I am pondering a bit as want to be ( fairly) sure that such drastic action will work and not just leave us with an eyesore to look at.

Would love to know if we are doing something wrong as they all seem to be in varying degrees of reverting, @Verdun mention shade might encourage this but our garden is pretty open on the whole.

Thanks.

 

Ok thanks......will just need to pluck up the courage now to do the deed!!!!!

 

Upsy, a judgement call here I think. If you consider its mostly green and that very little will be left when removed why not treat yourself to a replacement?
Life is too short to hang on to something not performing well. Get something you really want instead
With all variegated plants it is important to check for reversion when they are young, to remove green shoots as soon as you see them. Once a bush has reverted wholesale the variegated shoots are simply overwhelmed.