Forum home› Plants

Is this a seedhead?

LsinshirleyLsinshirley Posts: 71
in Plants
Hello lovely gardeners. On the lovely plant below there are 2 white looking branches sticking out. In blue circle. They look like seed heads, I have tried to look at the bottom of the plant but can’t tell whether it is attached. I am just going to snip them off anyway….. unless I shouldn’t.
Snip or not to snip?
Does it look like it’s from the same plant? Red circle.
«13

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,023
    You can tidy it up pretty much any time of year. I'd definitely snip off the sticky out bits and any plain green leaves to stop the plant reverting  (losing its variegation)
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    All  the same plant  :)
    Those pale stems are ones which are reverting. Quite common with variegated plants, but if they get a hold, you'll find them taking over. It's better to snip them off as far back as you can. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,126
    Those pale all-white (or all-yellow) shoots on variegated Euonymus often end up going brown in the sun and looking sickly, so best removed. I think it's because they have no (or very little) chlorophyll.
    Any all-green shoots that appear should be removed too, but for the opposite reason - they're stronger than the variegated growth and will take over if left alone.  I do leave one of mine because the all-green reverted part is much taller and doing a good job of screening, but I have some cuttings of the variegated part just in case it dies out completely on the parent plant.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    Ah - you're probably right there @JennyJ. I always think they're reversions too, but that makes more sense.  :)
    Definitely keep an eye out for any going all green.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,023
    @JennyJ. You have answered a question that I posted the other day. That's what was happening to my all-yellow shoots. Thank you😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,126
    I don't know whether all-white counts as reversion as well, but they don't usually look good so best removed whatever the reason for them appearing :)
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    Absolutely agree  @JennyJ. They're quite ugly really IMO.  :/
    I don't think I've ever had one do it, but the green reversion is a nuisance if you don't spot it!
    Probably isn't reversion as such. Must have a look and see if there's a name for it.    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,126
    My reverting one also has a bit that keeps growing all yellow and sickly-looking. I chop it out when I think about it. The plant doesn't seem to care either way.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    They're pretty resilient  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,023
    I find it quite therapeutic snipping off the greenies but then I find giving aphids the fondle of death quite relaxing too. Weird or what?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.