generally from spontaneous mutations.

Does Metasequoia Ogon count? It was from a batch of irradiated seed if I recall.

Sure tornado, that counts.

A lot of times plain seeds produce variegations. I've had several over the years.

And when Sara says spontaneous mutations, those are buds on green trees or shrubs (or buds found on previous mutations that again spontaneously mutate) for whatever reason (environmental stress, other factors) & those buds may grow variegated shoots/other colorations such as yellow, bluish, or even differing shades of green. As Sara said and I'm too being very general in my writing, bud mutations are the most common.

Dax

Dax when seeds do that, that would be spontaneous mutations, too, right? I know that there are all kinds of conifer cultivars (e.g. Cupressus macrocarpa 'Coneybearyi Aurea') that originated from chance seedlings (I think that's the way almost all new Japanese maple cultivars originate as well). I'm being less than scientific here, I suspect.

Sara, with the numerous "garden conifers", witch's brooms are often the source. These strange balls of mutated growth are themselves the result of some genetic change, so in that way, yes, caused by the same thing. But as a practical matter, they are propagated by cuttings which are originally sourced from these "brooms".

I agree Sara that seed offspring would have to be called a spontaneous mutation even though you and I and others refer to them as chance seedlings. Weeping or different color or any trait less common from a seed seems to fit the word mutation, properly.

Dax

Seedlings have mutated buds which produce the variegated leaves, then they are propagated from cuttings to produce more, which are sold at nurseries and garden centers nationwide.

Tom/Dax yes I was including WBs in the spontaneous mutation category. Then there is fasciation, which I gather is mysterious as well. No one seems to know why it randomly occurs, although there are some cultivars that exhibit that trait reliably. One year I had fasciation on many of my Cotinus, then never again!

I have been looking for one of the variegated tropical hibiscus.....

only ones I have found are at Biltmore, but not for sale.

Here are some pics I took:

once one of the things above occurs... then some plantsman figures out how to propagate it ... eventually in volume.. so it can be brought to market ..

often.. on a mature plant... that branch does not return the next year ... the green part reestablishes its dominance ...

its not all that uncommon.. once you start looking for it ...

ken