Bitter cassava (Manihot esculenta 'Variegata')
Manihot esculenta 'Variegata', or Bitter cassava, is a tropical shrub cherished for its striking yellow/cream-variegated foliage. Ideal for warm climates, it requires medium maintenance.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’, commonly known as Bitter cassava, provides exceptional visual interest in tropical and subtropical gardens due to its distinctive foliage. This plant is primarily valued among ornamental gardeners for its bright green leaves boldly variegated along the midribs and veins with sunny yellow, which ages as it matures to a creamy white. Although the species is globally important as a root crop, the variegated cultivar is selected specifically for its aesthetic appeal rather than its tuberous roots.
Growing as a fast-growing, milky-sapped tropical shrub, this plant thrives best when provided with consistent warmth and moisture. It matures into a substantial specimen, reaching 6 to 10 feet tall and wide in favorable climates. Providing full sun to part shade allows the foliage of Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ to develop its best coloration while maintaining robust growth.
For gardeners outside of its native tropical range, this plant offers great utility as a dramatic annual display or as a specimen container plant that can be brought indoors for winter protection. Its rapid growth and tolerance for various conditions make it a reliable choice for adding bold, architectural texture to summer landscapes.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-12
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 6-10 ft
- Spread: 6-10 ft
- Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
- Bloom Description: Greenish-white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
For optimal establishment, plant Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ when all danger of frost has passed in areas south of Zone 10. The best growth occurs in fertile, sandy soils that are kept evenly moist. Ensure the planting site offers good drainage, as perpetually waterlogged soil is detrimental. This species prefers a location receiving full sun, though it tolerates partial shading, which may slightly dull the variegation intensity.
Establish a medium watering schedule; Bitter cassava requires consistent moisture, especially during periods of active growth. Avoid letting the soil completely dry out between waterings. Maintenance is medium; while robust, keeping the plant shapely may require occasional pruning to control size or remove any reverted, unvariegated green branches that appear.
In climates colder than Zone 10, treat this as an annual, or overwinter containers indoors, as the plant is intolerant of frost and will die back to the ground if exposed to a freeze. Where conditions are suitable (Zones 10-12), the plant remains evergreen. Propagation is easily achieved using stem cuttings, ensuring you capture the desirable variegated characteristics.
Landscape Uses
Due to its large size and striking ornamental leaves, Bitter cassava is an excellent choice for high-impact planting where structure is needed. Consider using Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ as a dramatic background element in mixed perennial borders or as a singular specimen planting to showcase its unique foliage.
In warmer regions, it functions well as an informal screen or hedge where its 6 to 10-foot stature can provide semi-privacy or backdrop interest. Where winter survival is uncertain, this plant excels as a temporary tropical accent in containers. When growing Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ in pots, use a high-quality potting mix and ensure the container remains consistently watered.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Manihot esculenta, commonly known as bitter cassava, tapioca, manioc or yuca, is a milky-sapped tropical shrub that grows to 6-10’ tall. Although native to Brazil, it has been planted as an annual root crop in tropical areas around the world for harvest of its stout, elongated, tuberous roots from which cassava, tapioca, starch and other food products are obtained. It features palmately lobed, medium green leaves (typically 3-7 parted) with each leaf lobe growing to 3-8” long. Small, apetalous, greenish-white flowers (corolla is absent but bell-shaped calyx is petal-like) in short terminal panicles bloom throughout the year. Flowers are unisexual. Fruit is an ovoid 6-winged capsule. Roots contain toxic hydrocyanic acid which must be removed prior to consumption. Cultivated varieties are classed into two different groups: bitter varieties (primarily grown for starch) and sweet varieties (primarily grown as vegetable). Species plants and unvariegated varieties have little to no ornamental value.Genus name comes from the Brazilian name, manioc.Specific epithet means edible or good to eat.‘Variegata’ is grown as an ornamental plant because of its attractive foliage which features bright green leaves variegated along the midrib/veins with yellow. Yellow variegation eventually fades with age to creamy white.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
Potential Problems
Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ generally exhibits resilience, facing no serious insect or disease problems under ideal conditions. Gardeners should remain vigilant for potential infestations of red spider mites, particularly when the plant is stressed or growing in hot, dry conditions. Regularly inspecting the undersides of the leaves and maintaining good air circulation can help mitigate pest establishment.
If mite populations are detected, treating the plant with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil according to label directions can effectively control the pests. Remember that this plant requires 8-9 months of frost-free weather for root development, so focus cultural efforts on maximizing health during the warm season when grown as an annual.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Bitter cassava suitable for?
Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ is winter hardy only in USDA Zones 10 through 12, where it can be grown as an evergreen shrub.
How large does Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ grow?
This plant typically reaches a mature height between 6 and 10 feet tall, with a similar spread ranging from 6 to 10 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Bitter cassava need?
It performs best when situated where it receives full sun to part shade, offering flexibility in landscape design.
When does Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ bloom?
This species is described as a seasonal bloomer, producing small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers.
Conclusion
The dramatic, two-toned foliage of Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ offers unmatched tropical flair, making it a standout choice for color and form in the garden. Whether grown as a vibrant annual accent or a permanent evergreen in its specific warm zones, Bitter cassava warrants inclusion for its visual impact. Before planting, always confirm your local hardiness zone compatibility or plan for necessary season extension or overwintering protocols.
Companion Planting
When integrating Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ into a landscape design, select companions that share similar moisture and sun requirements. Plants that appreciate evenly moist, well-drained soils and thrive in bright, warm conditions pair well. Consider using dark green, solid-colored foliage plants nearby to enhance the graphic contrast provided by the variegated leaves of the cassava.
For tropical container groupings, large-leafed Elephant Ears (Colocasia) or vigorous Cannas create an excellent textural grouping. In-ground borders benefit from pairing this shrub with other heat-tolerant, bold-leafed plants that establish quickly during the summer growing season, allowing the bright variegation to stand out as a focal point.
Propagation Tips
Propagation of the desirable ‘Variegata’ form is easily achieved through stem cuttings, which is often preferable to seed to maintain the exact ornamental trait. Take cuttings from semi-hardened new growth, typically 4 to 6 inches in length, ensuring each cutting has at least two nodes.
Prepare the base of the cutting by removing the lower leaves, leaving only the top set intact. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone to encourage faster establishment, then plant firmly in a sterile, moist propagation medium, such as peat and perlite mix. Provide bottom heat and high humidity if possible to speed up the process, as cuttings root best when warm.
