Plants aren't always green

Marianne Groothuis is the Camellia and Thematic Collection Curator

In the thematic borders in the lower botanic garden, one group of plants is selected for the colour of the foliage alone. It’s the coloured and variegated foliage border where almost every colour of the rainbow is represented and green is definitely not the predominant colour.

Many of the plants have coloured leaf patterns called variegation. This may be due to abnormal conditions, like a mutation or viral infection, or it may simply be a characteristic of the species.

Variegations can sometimes originate from sports. Sports are mutations, caused by an accidental or induced change in the genetic make-up of a plant. These can produce a shoot with different characteristics to those of the parent plant.

No matter whether you chose a species, variety or cultivar; a chance sport or a mutant for your garden, you can make the coloured or variegated plant your friend. Bring it out, mix up the colours and create drifts of contrast.

From the gardens corner main entrance, walk along the Great King Street boundary and be inspired by the striking colours of:

• Pieris japonica 'Variegata' – small slim leaves with a fine creamy-yellow edge
• NZ mountain cabbage, Cordyline indivisa - broad blue-grey leaves with bright orange midrib
• Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb' – almost jet black, curly young foliage on a compact shrub
• Brachyglottis greyi – silver, felty leaves
• Pseudowintera 'Red Leopard' – golden-green foliage blotched purple red – a selected form of NZ pepper tree
• Uncinia rubra – rich copper red sedge