where zre you.. big city name.. they are year around perennials for you ..

you said: My head is telling me to cut my losses, take a few cuttings of the variegated foliage and start over

==>> of course.. why not ... but why do you have to get rid of the other.. while these spend a year maturing.. perhaps in pots ....

though i am wondering.. if it might not be time to cut bait.. back in the day i grew all kinds of very cool plants.. but i eventually weeded them out.. because they became to problematic int he garden .. you will probably .. eventually.. come to the same conclusion ...

you can only beat your head against the side of the house for so long.. before you realize... its kinda counter productive to having a happy .. headache free day .. lol ..

ken

UK, Zone 8/9 (Cambridge). The larger ones stay outside all year (because the garden is tiny and sheltered), although I cut them back hard.

I reassessed my home garden last year and have been pleased with the result apart from the endless watering so yeah, I see where you are going. I suspect this is part of every long-term gardener's trajectory. I recall Floral talking 'bout her wood years ago, telling me she never 'gardened'. I was incredulous, back then. Now, of course, I never garden either, apart from throwing a few native seeds around and cutting the rides. I got over the 'so many plants, so little time' stuff a few years ago so I think a judicious editing is probably in order and tbf, the plants themselves are showing the way.