what is variegated leaf

Variegated leaf refers to the appearance of differently colored zones on the leaves, stems, and sometimes the fruit of plants. Variegated plants are those with leaves with more than one color, which may be marked with differently colored dots, blotches, speckles, stripes, or edges. Variegation can either be symmetrical and regular, occurring on all leaves, or more sporadic, uneven, and varied in degree. Some plants have clearly variegated sections, whereas some variegations may appear with some blending between sections, making their variegations appear more subtle or take over the whole appearance of the leaf. Variegated sections on a plant may appear as stripes, spots, circles, borders, and other shapes. Variegation can occur in different colors, not just green. Variegated plants are a widely sought-after plant trait in landscaping, and they are known as showstoppers.