Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' is a poor soil-tolerant, variegated, deciduous groundcover that performs best in partial shade in evenly moist soils, and is vigorous in its establishment when given a large shady area to cover.
Alternate common name: Variegated Bishop's Goutweed
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F E A T U R E S |
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Form
-herbaceous perennial
-spreading groundcover, 8-10" tall
-medium-sized herbaceous perennial groundcover foliage rises to 1' high from the many basal crowns, while the plant spreads indefinitely at its perimeter
-upright mat growth habit
-medium growth rate (at its perimeter by underground stolons) |
Foliage
-ternate (3 leaflets per compound leaf) or biternate (7- 9 leaflets per compound leaf, with the lower leaflets sometimes fused together) foliage rises directly from the crown
-ovate serrated leaflets are pale gray-green with white- or cream-edged variegation making a good contrast to the otherwise gray-green foliage in shady situations |
Flowers
-white, non-showy flat-topped inflorescences (umbels)
-1.5-3" wide
-late spring to early summer
-presence makes the plants look untidy |
Fruit
-ornamentally insignificant; the small brown seeds are borne on flat-topped fruiting stalks, and should be deadheaded after flowering to prevent self-sowing |
Twig
-not applicable |
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Trunk
-not applicable |
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C U L T
U R E
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Culture
-partial sun to full shade
-tolerant of a wide range of soils, but prefers moist soils
-maintenance of variegated habit may require removal of all-green leaves that occasionally develop
-should be given boundaries as it is quite aggressive and can overwhelm a mixed bed; propagates by underground stems
-susceptible to leaf blights in hot, humid conditions (prefers cooler, drier air) |
Hardiness
-zones 4 to 8
Origin
-native to Europe
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U S A G E |
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Assets
-wide environmental tolerances
-variegated foliage (the predominant form in cultivation) lightens up shady spot
-aggressive spreading growth (if this is desired)
Liabilities
-can be invasive and take over
-MUST be restricted or the plant will overwhelm other plants, especially in rock gardens or in mixed borders
-summer leaf scorch under sunny and/or dry conditions |
Function
-edging, border, foundation, raised planter, or focal point groundcover
-should only be used in a restricted root zone area (for example, between a sidewalk and a foundation) due to its rapid spread out-of-bounds by underground invasive stolons
Texture
-medium texture
-thick density |
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S E L
E C T I 0 N S |
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Varieties
and Cultivars
- Search
OSU PlantFacts for additional plants in this species
Alternates
-other variegated groundcovers (Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow', Hedera helix 'Gold Heart', Liriope muscari 'Monroe White', Pachysandra terminalis 'Variegata', Vinca minor 'Ralph Shugert', etc.) |