Variegated Caryota gigas?

[MattyB]

What do you think? It only shows up on this one leaf.

[phatmiata]

Looks varigated especially in that one leaf, where did you find it? I never see those out here local. I bought two of them last year down in south florida last time i was at DAsign Source Botanicals. They are really beautiful, i just planted mine at my in-laws house as they have pleanty more land than i do to grow these monsters.

[MattyB]

I just realized I spelled nutritional wrong and can't edit it. Sorry.

I got a couple of one gallons from Joe Palma when I moved to my new place almost two years ago. I planted them but decided to move them this spring to a different area. I just dug this one up last week and noticed the possible variegation then.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Very cool looking Matty! I hope it holds the variegation.

[MattyB]

I know. If it does then I'll sell it. Too much intense sunshine inland for variegated Caryotas. It's hard enough to keep regular Caryotas green in my sun.

[DoomsDave]

That's a varg all right.

Keep us posted.

[Joe palma]

I noticed that I had some like that several months back and was wondering the same thing Matt. They were on one or two leaves as well.

Guess they are varigated! Cool.

I'll post a pic of the ones I have.

[MattyB]

Well they're from your stock so maybe you got a seed batch prone to variegation.

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

Matt, that's a well grown plant. When I saw the 1st picture I said definitely "nutritional" but then that lower leaf in the 2nd pic is definitely true variegation. Hope it holds for you.

[rockos82]

Here is a pic of mine from a few months ago it has thrown 2 newer leafs none with var. I hope it comes back as it gets bigger...

[kylecawazafla]

I just realized I spelled nutritional wrong and can't edit it. Sorry.

You spelled it correctly in Spanish!!

[MattyB]

See, I'm typing in tongues.

[Phil]

Matty,

I saw nothing in the first two photographs that demonstrated true variegation to me. But, Rocko's photo (is that your plant?) does show what I'd call variegation. It was not a vague pattern of yellow but rather a well demarcated stripe of yelllow. A characteristic of Caryota gigas is mottled leaves with various shades of green. If nutritionally challenged, part of this change in colors and intensitiies can be yellow.

Phil

[JD in the OC]

Phil,

I think you just made Rock's day

[rockos82]

Matty,

But, Rocko's photo (is that your plant?) does show what I'd call variegation.

Phil

Yeah I bought 2 of them from JD when he moved to Florida it didn't show the variegation til i had it for two leafs...

its a good thing too he probly wouldn't have sold it to me if he knew... he's a sucker variegation.

[Phil]

The thing about variegation is that it often disappears. A juvenile plants shows it and then it vanishes with future leaves. One will see this with Howeas from time to time. I'm not one of them, but there are "Variegation Freaks" who seek out variegated plants. And, growers will typically double or triple the price for a plant hanging onto the variegation. And, these guys willingly buy them at almost any price. Hard to understand. Add to this the crested plant guys and there you go. In Nature, plant mutants are sought after. With cycads as well, virus-ridden plants that have malformed, peculiar leaves are quckly grabbed up.

Phil

[Joe palma]

Here are some other pics of 2 gigas from the same batch as the one Matt has.

The first two are the same plant and looks fairly healthy otherwise (minus the brown spots).

The second one is just as healthy looking, if not more so.

[JD in the OC]

The real test will be seeing what these look like once mature. Can you imagine a huge gigas leaf with half variegation?!? That would be cool.