On the subject of clones, I may contribute some information that I have learned primarily from my experiences with hosta tissue cultures. Each clone, in theory, is identical to the donor.
What happens sometimes, with hostas that produces a different cultivar, is mutation. A hosta mutates frequently to adapt. Mutations occurs to clones because the shock of cloning puts the chromosomes in flux, producing a variegation.
There are many beautiful variegated hostas caused by cloning.
