Rosy Hardy is owner of Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants and a multiple Chelsea Gold Medal winner
Variegated plants are definitely a ‘Marmite’ subject – you either love them or hate them. They’re also a very Englishgarden one. I personally like Marmite, but generally am not a fan of variegated plants – some of them are just so ugly and look sick. Whenever I see a variegated plant it makes me feel quite sad. They always look so unhappy.
This is not to say I hate all variegation, because as with all things there are always exceptions to the rule. But, in particular, I hate Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’, Farfugium japonicum giganteum (giant leopard plant) and Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Woodside Strain’, with its irregular yellow spotting, which is just awful. These plants look as though weedkiller has been liberally sprayed around and has left them looking sick and in need of help.