Submitted Photo Variegated plants add texture and color to our gardens and create focal points. (NDSU photo)

I love zinnias. They are one of my favorite flowers. I interplant long rows of zinnias with my pumpkin and squash plants every year. Last year, as I was weeding the rows, I noticed a plant that had a striking difference from the rest. The plant was variegated. It had green leaves with strips of light-green and cream colors. Not missing the chance to experiment, I marked the plant, and last fall saved the seed separately. I started the seeds this spring.

Before we talk about the results of my experiment, let’s discuss plant variegation. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, variegation means a diversity of colors. For plants, these differences can be in colors, in the leaves

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