The Plant Guide

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Variegated tapioca

Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’

MAN-ih-hot ess-kew-LEN-tah

From May to frost, whatever the temperature, this plant’s creamy yellow markings do not fade. It looks good in containers or in garden beds, and you can use it in the foreground or as a focal point in distant plantings. Variegated tapioca attains a height and width of 3 to 4 feet. It is normally grown as an annual but can be overwintered indoors. —Allan Armitage, Fine Gardening #121

Noteworthy CharacteristicsStriking foliage all season long.

CareGrow in full sun to partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Set out plants in mid to late spring when warm temperatures arrive. Once temperatures climb to more than 70°F, plants will shoot up quickly. Provide plants with a slow-release fertilizer at the start of the season, and water as needed. Before the first frost, place plants indoors in a warm area under fluorescent lights until spring.

PropagationIn midwinter, place two- to three-node stem cuttings flat on the soil surface. Transplant new shoots to their final containers when they reach 1 to 2 inches long.

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  • Genus : Manihot
  • Zones : 10, 11
  • Plant Height : 3 to 6 feet
  • Plant Width : 3 to 6 feet
  • Uses : Containers
  • Growth Rate : Fast
  • Light : Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • Maintenance : Low
  • Moisture : Medium Moisture
  • Plant Type : Perennials
  • Characteristics : Showy Foliage
  • Plant Seasonal Interest : Summer Interest

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Fine Gardening Magazine

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The Best Plants with Four-Season Interest in Your Region
Fine Gardening – Issue 220
End-of-Season Regrets | Letter from the Editor
Fine Gardening – Issue 219
All Gardens Have Teachable Moments | Letter from the Editor
Fine Gardening – Issue 218
Gardening Against All Odds | Letter from the Editor
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