Variegated tapioca (Manihot esculenta 'Variegata') MAN-ih-hot ess-kew-LEN-tah Genus:  Manihot 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, Plant picks, Fine Gardening issue #121 Noteworthy Characteristics:  Striking foliage all season long. Care:  Grow 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. Propagation:  In 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.

Overview

Height 3 ft. to 6 ft. Spread 3 ft. to 6 ft. Growth Pace Fast Grower Light Full Sun to Part Shade Moisture Medium Moisture Maintenance Low Characteristics Showy Foliage Foliage Color Variegated Foliage Uses Beds and Borders, Container, Specimen Plant/Focal Point, Suitable as Annual Seasonal Interest Summer Interest Type Tropicals