Variegated Tapioca: Striking Foliage Annual for Sun or Shade

Manihot esculenta 'Variegata' (Variegated Tapioca)

From May to frost, this plant's creamy yellow markings never fade. It looks good in containers or garden beds, as a foreground accent or distant focal point. Grows 3–4 feet tall and wide. Normally grown as an annual but can be overwintered indoors.

—Allan Armitage, Fine Gardening #121

Noteworthy Characteristics

Striking foliage all season long.

Growing Conditions & Care

Grow in full sun to partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Set out in mid- to late spring when warm temperatures arrive. Once above 70°F, plants shoot up quickly. Apply slow-release fertilizer at season start and water as needed. Before frost, move indoors to a warm area under fluorescent lights until spring.

Propagation

In midwinter, place two- to three-node stem cuttings flat on soil surface. Transplant new shoots to final containers when 1–2 inches long.

Quick Reference

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