Scrophularia auriculata Variegata

Scrophularia auriculata 'Variegata', as its name suggests, is a beautiful variety of scrophularia with variegated foliage, featuring oval, wavy, and toothed leaves in a dark green-grey colour heavily maculated with cream-white. Between June and August, it bears clusters of tiny white-greenish flowers with a reddish-brown violet upper lip. This sturdy perennial plant is ideal for adding a touch of refined elegance to wet areas of the garden, in full sun or partial shade. A very hardy and low-maintenance plant, mostly deciduous, perfect for quickly filling the edges of a pond or stream.

Scrophularia auriculata belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family, just like snapdragons, mulleins, and foxgloves. This herbaceous perennial plant is native to western Europe. The 'Variegata' form distinguishes itself with its unique foliage, variegated with cream-white. The plant forms a bushy clump reaching 40 to 80cm (16 to 32in) in height, sometimes more, depending on growing conditions. It will spread about 60cm (24in). Sturdy, hollow, square-sectioned stems emerge from the base. They bear characteristic foliage, which is sometimes evergreen in mild climates. The leaves are oval, 5 to 25cm (2 to 10in) long, rough, with a swollen appearance and rounded toothed edges. They are a dark green-grey colour, widely and irregularly variegated with cream-white. The summer flowering does not have great ornamental interest and can be removed to promote the appearance of new foliage. The inflorescences are terminal panicles of tiny round, bilabiate flowers, 1cm (0.4in) long. They are yellowish-green, each with a reddish upper lip.

Scrophularias have the advantage of adapting to most wet situations, especially in clay and/or limestone soils. These plants combine several qualities. Their naturalness, the beauty of their (sometimes evergreen) foliage, and their hardiness make them suitable for many situations, whether for their aesthetic or ecological interest. Plant them in a light and humid understory, or along a stream or a large body of water. Scrophularia auriculata 'Variegata' is particularly remarkable for its elegant foliage. Paired with burgundy, violet, golden, or bronze foliage (actaea, rodgersia), it will create a contrasting picture in partial shade. It can also be combined with dark green foliage (angelica), silver (Artemisia lactiflora), or chartreuse (Alchemilla mollis), in a harmonious colour scheme, in full sun.