Hi Tia, I can't answer your question but I think it is pretty! Rosie

I just had something similar occur and was told it may be spontaneous variegation, or have turned into a leaf chimera (the latter can't be propagated by leaf, only sucker or bloom stem)

I put down a leaf, to test the theory, and am waiting for the rest of the plant to grow big enough to "decapitate" in order to grow suckers.

Karin

Karin I have never heard of a leaf chimera. I just always thought it had to do with flowers.

Did you place down just a leaf or also a bloom stem? Very interested in hearing the end result of this. Rosie

I also don't know the proper name for this type of variegation; I'm not certain there is one. Happy Harold is one plant that has white splashes of varying size on its leaves. I have a plant of Harmony's Hot Flash with leaves similar to yours. . at least they were under cool conditions. Right now its leaves are solid green. The amount of variegation you will get may be hit or miss depending upon growing temps & other cultural factors.

Terri

Found this plant beat up and on clearance at a local garden center.......but I have seen cultivars with this type of variegation. Most of the standard chimeras have the layers of cells.....including the leaf chimeras. These would include the more stable ones with variegated centers and green outsides that can not be propagated by leaves. Since this variegation is more "random", I am assuming they are distributed throughout all cell layers (?). This particular plant has a pale white and blue flower. It is in bad shape in soggy peat soil....now repotted so hopefully it can be nursed into something (more) interesting.

Terri, happy Harold is actually one of the first five registered descendants of Tommie Lou (according to violet barn). So by default it would probably be called Tommie Lou Variegation...

Rosie, the first (and so far, only) bloom stalk had no bracts (I think that's what the leaves are called).

I will put the next one down if it shows more promise....

Woodnative, there is a possibility that the variegation will go away when the plant recovers. - I was told that about an optimara with spontaneous variegation but it did propagate "true" (with the variegation).

"Commercially appealing" leaf chimeras include Rob's lucky series, harmony's little stinker and milk's ten cat. I am trying to figure out how they managed to "align" the chimeric part, so it was "pretty".

If I figure it out, I'll let you know...

Karin

Thanks Karin! I would love to know the end result! Rosie

The variegation shown on the leaves above is mosaic variegation. There are essentially 4 kinds of variegation in AVs:

Mosaic- random blotches

Tommie Lou- lighter blotches around the leaf edges only

Crown- leaves near the center of the plant are variegated while those in further out rows are not.

The last form isn't really named yet, but are referred to as "chimera leaves." These leaves contain large patches of color that roughly parallel the edge of the leaf. Rob's Lucky Penny is a good example. There are different colors and qualities of expression in each of the variegation types, and unfortunately the terms "mosaic" and "tommie lou" have often been used interchangeably.

I'm new here, what a cool site! Been reading your discussions about variegation with interest! This is a difficult subject! snappyguy you gave a pretty good explanation, but I disagree with your explanation of TL variegation. It isn't just on the leaf edge, but it can be! There seems to be more variations of TL type variegation than other types, and I think that's where a lot of the confusion comes from.

It can be everything from neat little blotches to mostly white with small green areas. Of course, as others have said a lot depends on growing conditions.

Original beat up plant recovering nicely but new leaves don't have the variegation. Temperature related?

Glad to see the plant is doing well. Very pretty flower. Variegation could be temp related. They say, from what I have read, that warmer temps make greener leaves but when the temp cools down the variegation should return.

Hope your variegation does come back, it was pretty! Rosie

Thank you! I wonder what cultivar this could be. A closer look at the flowers

Oh! This new pix shows a lot more! I thought the flowers were all white. You know,,,,as it continues to recover you may get a little more color on more flowers.

As far as a name,,,,I have nothing. Good luck! Rosie

I have mosaic and Tommie Lou. I divide the TL into two categories, pencil (around the edge) and pinto ( splashes). Tommie Lou variegation seems to be distinct colors with well defined edges.

I would call that a Pinto Tommie Lou. Some people call it Splash. I have one plant that looks like paint splatter on dark green. There is always a distinct edge between the colors on TL

Mosaic is mottled. The colors are more intermixed. Mosaic is heat resistant . TL will green up in warm weather or with nitrogen but my Mosaic does not. Mosaic does not have distinct areas of color. It is speckled not splashed or edged.

Pinto Tommie Lou it is then thank you! That would make sense since it greened up over the warm summer. Does that type of variegation propagate easily from leaf cuttings?

I have one pinto (splash) TL plant that does green up a bit in the warmer weather but never loses it's variegation. I have a Buck Eye that turns solid green in warmth. It might be an individual characteristic.

I don't know about propagation. That depend on temperature, light, soil mix but I have heard, all things being equal, that variegated is slower to set mouse ears and slower to grow. That is not my experience but I have a different climate than most growers

Tommie Lou, Crown and Mosaic variegation will propagate from leaves.

This thing still blooming like crazy! Anxious to see if the variegation comes back with the cooler weather. I can hardly see the leaves right now lol.

Woodnative, I've tried to send you a message on here. But how ever I can't seem to find your message bar. Could you try messaging me on here? I may have some information about the variegation on this african violet.

Grantgarden2

Grant, you may as well share your insights with everybody...

as for whether the variegation will come back... It may have sported back, or been a symptom of underlying issues, lack of nutrients, etc...

or it could just be the temperature - that's half the fun of growing AVs :)

Grantgarden2 I can't figure out how to message either but maybe because I am checking on my phone(?). Weather cooling down here so let's see if the variegation comes back. Hard to see leaves under all the flowers lol

I think the african violet may have sported out some variegated leaves. Just like how a plant may sport out a variegated branch. How did the leaves with the variegations you put down do? I love finding sports on my plants and others. Growing variegated plants are always fun and intreating for me! Woodnative, I am not able to get my message bar to enable to for me on my page, I must be missing something on the settings page.

Grantgarden2