Many of the plants in our gardens have been developed and discovered that offer interesting characteristics. These may include leaves with variegations, dwarf growth habits, or even contorted stems. We enjoy these plant differences and many of these plants are big business in the nursery trade. In nature, it is likely these interesting plant mutations would not survive as they are less likely to be able to reproduce successfully. Horticulture professionals keep these plants available most often by propagation through cuttings and tissue culture.

Sometimes in the landscape, nature prevails and we see one of our favorite plant varieties revert back to its original or “wild” form. You may see a stem on a variegated plant that has larger leaves that are all green.

These stems often grow more vigorously and can use nutrients and energy that the remainder of the plant needs. As soon as you see these different stems, prune them back to a connection with another stem that exhibits the plant characteristics you want.

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