I have a variegated masterwort, Sunningdale, which up until last year was gorgeous. Last year and now this year, it has mostly reverted to plain green. If I nipped out all the green leaves, I fear I would kill the plant. Is there any way to reverse a reversion? What causes plant to revert? I really like this plant and may just replace with fresh stock, but am now wondering if I can only depend on it to stay variegated for a limited time. Per my records, my plant is about 10 years old, so held its color for about 8 years. It is in a fairly sunny spot with morning and late afternoon shade, maybe it wants more shade? This photo was taken in its prime, perhaps 4-5 years ago.

Hi Deb,
I am no expert, but my understanding is that this does happen. I have a stand Hakonechloa macra aureola that is doing this too. I just keep digging out the reverted grass & planting it elsewhere. I think solid green plants are hardier that the variegated ones. Maybe a little bit of evolution happening here?

Here is a shot of my Hakone grass some years back when the reversion was just beginning:


Can you see the small bunch of grass to the right that is totally green? I have moved it and it is now becoming a big stand of solid green hakone grass, clearly hardier that its parent.

Deb, you have made me curious about Astrantia major 'Sunningdale Variegata'. I might check it out. I love variegated plants in the garden.

I have found that when a plant starts to revert if you do not take the green off the entire plant will revert because the solid green is a stronger growth and it will take over the variegated part. I guess that is why the plants start to revert because the dominant solid green is so strong.

I now resist buying variegated varieties for this reason. It is so frustrating.

At the risk of killing the plant, I think I'll go ahead and trim off all solid leaves and see what happens. The worst case is I replace it, which is where I am at anyway. Just need to decide if I'll go with the same (really pretty) plant or perhaps try something else. Funny, I ran across this pic from 2007 and the only thing still there is the masterwort (now green) and the euphorbia. The rest have all gone away for one reason or the other, and there is now a chunk of crocosmia behind the euphorbia and a salvia where the candytuft was. I always struggle with creeping phlox, and that spot is in a bit of flux at the moment. Good example of our ever-evolving gardens!

Several years ago I purchased a beautiful variegated artemesia, patented no less. It escaped and is now in half of my garden. It is still variegated and beautiful , but I chuckle to myself about having purchased a patented weed!

I must correct myself! I did just purchase a Tequila Sunrise Coreopsis. But I only paid $3.33 for it. So that was an exception to my no more variegated rule

Deb, You gave me a start off your plant some time ago. This is my observation, it has beautiful variation early spring, greens out in the heat or reaction to longer days and then returns to variegation as the temps cool.
This is mine today.




Just a few weeks ago is was variegated all over but if I look into the depths of the leaves they are still variegated down inside.

I have another variegated one- Astrantia major 'Vanilla Gorilla' . It has lived for years under a cedar tree. It has never reverted. It also changes a bit with the seasons.

I have Sunningdale variegated and absolutely love it. I agree with Julia that as summer goes on the variegation fades, but I'd certainly remove all green shoots as they appear.

Thanks all. I did remove all the solid green leaves and left anything that showed any amount of variagation. Crossing fingers.