The Ledger: Clippings: For indoor greenery, ivy's in a league of its own You don’t have to be brilliant to become an ivy leaguer – just smart enough to appreciate the attributes of ivies as houseplants. Botanists recognize 12 to 15 species of the genus Hedera – true ivies ... Variegated has been adding color to our language since the 17th century.

Understanding the Context

It is used in botany to describe the presence of two or more colors in the leaves, petals, or other parts of plants, and it also appears in the names of some animals (such as the variegated cutworm). VARIEGATED definition: varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors. See examples of variegated used in a sentence. Variegated plants are some of the most beautiful and fascinating specimens available for our homes and gardens.

Key Insights

Instead of solid-colored foliage, variegated plants' leaves are adorned with spots, splotches, stripes, or edges in at least one contrasting color. VARIEGATED definition: 1. having a pattern of different colours or marks: 2. having a pattern of different colors or…. Learn more.

Final Thoughts

1. Having streaks, marks, or patches of a different color or colors; varicolored: a plant with variegated leaves. 2. Distinguished or characterized by variety; diversified: her variegated experience. Variegated plants are the showstoppers of the plant world—the ones that make you stop mid-scroll and say, “okay… I need that.” With their streaks of creamy white, splashes of yellow, and marbled greens, no two leaves are ever exactly alike. That unpredictability is exactly what makes them so addictive to collectors.

But behind the beauty, there’s a little more going on than just good ...