Hello, I have a young C. controversa 'Variegata' (wedding cake tree) that has thrown up a sport off of the lower trunk which is entirely white. It's in its third year now. Haven't quite figured out how to attach images inline, but here are links to the two leaf clusters. http://www.adelka.com/misc/variegata http://www.adelka.com/misc/whitevariegata Is this a common thing? If not would it be worthwhile to try and propagate it? I searched around but couldn't find much info. Esveld lists a cultivar called 'Candle Light', but no picture. (Sounded as if it might be all or mostly white). Anyone have this one, or a picture of it? cheers, -E
Probably not worth propagating, the lack of chlorophyll makes plants produced from all white sports very weak and prone to scortch.
Non-green portions of variegated shrubs and trees fairly frequent, silver holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata') and variegated winter daphne (Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata') are two common variegated shrubs that often have these. I think I may have seen them before on the dogwood as well.
If I remember there is an all white maple, A. buergerianum 'Nusatori yama' (having just looked it up in Vertrees!) which I've never seen. He does say it is very weak and prone to scorch. In it's current state, the sport -- in full sun -- shows no scorch at all. That may of course be because it's supported by the rest of the plant, but it certainly seems vigorous. Thanks for the replies. If it doesn't revert I may give it a go anyway. -E P.S. My confusion over the attachments came from the fact they didn't appear in the post preview. Anyway I seem to have worked it out.
Tend to agree with the comments, my Cornus alba 'Gouchaultii' puts out white (and also yellow) sports all the time. Gomero
