Three variegated houseplants with quite different habits, chosen so the creams and whites carry across all three.

Ficus elastica 'Tineke' is a rubber plant with large glossy leaves patched cream, green and a soft pink along the margins, growing upright into a small indoor tree. Peperomia obtusifolia 'Variegata', the variegated baby rubber plant, is compact and bushy with thick fleshy oval leaves in cream and green, sized for a desk. Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen' is a pothos with heart-shaped leaves marbled white and green that will trail from a shelf, hang from a planter or climb a moss pole.

All three want bright indirect light, and that is what keeps the variegation strong; in a dull corner the marble queen in particular fades back towards plain green. Keep them out of direct sun, which scorches the leaves. Let the top few centimetres of compost dry between waterings and never leave the pots standing in water, because the peperomia stores water in its leaves and is very easily overwatered. Keep them between about 15C and 25C, away from cold draughts. Feed monthly through spring and summer and wipe the larger leaves. The ficus dislikes being moved, so settle it in one spot and leave it there.

Supplied as three established plants in 1 litre root balls, ready to pot into containers of your own. The ficus and the pothos are harmful if eaten and their sap irritates skin and eyes, so keep them away from children, cats and dogs.

Cultural Information

Common Name: Variegated rubber plant, variegated peperomia and marble queen pothos

Fully Grown Height and Spread: Ficus to about 200cm; peperomia 25 to 30cm; pothos trails or climbs to about 200cm

Growth Habit: Upright tree like, compact and bushy, and trailing or climbing

Perfect For: Shelves, desks, bright living rooms and hanging planters

Foliage: Cream, green and pink; cream and green fleshy oval; white and green marbled heart-shaped

Flowering Time: Grown for foliage

Planting Position: Bright to medium indirect light indoors

Soil Type: Free-draining, peat-free houseplant compost

Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 15C

Maintenance: Moderate; bright light for the variegation and careful watering

Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage

Type: Houseplant collection of three plants