Since the causes, conditions and care for any variegated plant varies so widely with their genus and location, any discussion is best left to the forum that best addresses that specific plant. Consolidating information is meaningless - a variegated boxwood is going to present an enitrely different set of situations than is a variegated epipremnum, chamaecyparis or a variegated crassula.

And there are far too many mostly inactive forums anyway, mostly because they were created for a very specific gardening or plant situation that just does not get the discussion traffic. I'm pretty sure adding yet another is just a non-starter.

Thank you for your comment. I like to grow variegated plants, to study ( in a non-academic way), the differences in types of variegation, in different plants. Maybe the botany forum is the appropriate forum for such an interest. Maybe people will start to post the information on this new area of interest, within the horticulture and landscaping industry, because the marketing of variegated plants (in every genera and species) is really taking off. That is due to an emerging interest in the general public, and a fascination with what are now somewhat novelty items in the garden center. As this trend grows, there will be more applications for variegated plants in the landscape. Variegation actually increases interest in the flowers as well as the plant itself. There are many opportunities for discussion in a variegation forum, related to variegation itself, not specific to any specific plant, or group of plants. I hope that this area of interest will continue to grow, despite the lack of a dedicated forum on which to share information regarding variegation topics.

The very problem with this website, is that the topics are too specific- the topic of variegation is a broad one, and a timely one, because there is much plant breeding work being done, specific to variegation development, in all species of plants (even Cacti), with which to incorporate into the landscape, or interior display. As an amateur horticulturist, I am excited about all of the new developments in plant variegation, and now would be a good time to offer a forum to generate interest, as well as providing information on applications of plant variegation within the landscape, or the home.

I am a professional horticulturist and a landscape designer and I think you may be overestimating the appeal of variegated plants. Most hobby gardeners do not care for them - the one exception might be hosta - describing them as looking diseased or anemic. It is more the interest of plant collectors. And to be honest, after more than 25 years in the nursery industry, I can attest to the fact that variegated plants do not sell as well as non-variegated ones. There are exceptions of course.

I tried to interest a recent client into a new variegated introduction of Fatsia japonica, 'Murakumo Nishki' (trademark Camouflage) and was met with a resounding "no"!

As to care, cultivation and use in the landscape, I still believe the individual plant forums are better equiped and trafficked to address any questions that are associated to those specific forums. And no new forums have been added to the site in years. I think the Maples forum is one of the most recent additions and that was back in 2005!!

If you come to Honolulu, Hawaii, you will see a tremendous amount of plant variegation within the landscape- especially with the woody perennial plants. I know that everyone has their tastes, and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Also, trends change, and people are always looking for something new- it's difficult to predict. Yes, this website is not what it used to be- I hope that I can find a better venue for plant information.

The No. 1- most popular plant here, for landscaping, is Codaeium variegatum, which is a variegated plant.

A muse....I applaud your enthusiasm but am quite certain that a forum on the subject simply wouldn't catch on. I'd love to see you infuse that enthusiasm into the other forums in which a particular plant belongs.

Discussions about Codiaeum variegatum, for example, would be appreciated in Foliage, Houseplants, and the Tropical forums. Have you tried to kindle some enthusiasm for this passion of yours in the Tropicalesque Gardens forum?

I, for one, would be quite interested in seeing just how much in depth conversation will take place about variegated plants in particular or in general.