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A modern form with bold gold splashed leaves. Not very vigorous, I killed it once by planting
it under an alder tree that needed some odornment, and ended up with some extra mulch. Plants Delights Nursery says: "(USPP 12,132 expired) We are pleased to offer one of the most exciting evergreen groundcovers to hit the market in many years. This stunning 2001 introduction is a sport of the common Vinca minor, discovered by the late Christy Hensler of Washington. Each brilliant golden leaf is surrounded by a contrasting, dark green edge...both colors hold all year long. For us, Vinca 'Illumination' has not proven to be aggressive, like most other cultivars of Vinca minor. Within a few years, you will have a striking patch, topped in spring with typical blue-lavender flowers...you will LOVE it!" The Plant Patent says: "The new cultivar was discovered in the inventor's garden in Newport, Wash. in 1995. ‘Illumination’ was isolated from a branch sport arising in a patch of common, green-leafed Vinca minor (unpatented). It is distinguished by it's variegated foliage consisting of yellow to cream colored centers surrounded by dark green margins. The mature stems are also unique in that they are greyed purple in color. No other known cultivar, known to the inventor, has a coloration that is similar to this new cultivar ‘Illumination’. There are two cultivars of periwinkle that are available in the trade with gold variegation; ‘Golden’ and ‘Blue and Gold’, both of which have thin gold margins and green centers. Another cultivar, ‘Valley Glow’, has leaves that emerge a gold color, but then the leaves turn green upon maturation." Chris Adam says: "'Illumination' and 'Imagine' are two cultivars that I can't tell apart. Both have wide, central, golden variegation with deep, blue flowers. Both are protected - 'Illumination' with a patent in the USA, 'Imagine' with Plant Breeders Rights in Germany...I am planting the pair either side of a path in the hope of convincing myself that they are different. We already have a large area of 'Illumination' which makes a really showy, dense groundcover and is my wife's favourite Vinca>/i>." |
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| 4th April 2006 | ||
