The variegation reminds me of Ruellia makoyana. Here is a link that might be useful: Ruellia makoyana

Plantmaven - Thanks for the link. It's interesting that they say it isn't fatal, since at my old house, the columbine were so chewed up, they didn't have any leaves left! So, I'm a bit nervous. Melissa - It's so funny to see that arbor in other places - I've seen it in a couple of yards in the area, too. This is the first year I've mulched the whole thing with leaves. Last year, I did just the trench around it, but was running out of leaves. This year, since I didn't add any of my leaves to lasagna gardens, I think I'll have enough to mulch at least the old borders. Not sure if I'll have enough for dd's hot annuals border along the fenceline. (The mostly bare-looking area.) We are still watching for seedlings coming up in there, anyhow. I have a bunch of self-seeded cosmos, and I'm figuring that if we have some major bare spots, I'll fill them with cosmos. Thanks on the compliments - it is great to have it coming together. Eventually I may have the lilac blooming at this time, too. Of course, as it gets bigger, I'll need to move the irises around it.

Send me addresses - I just finished chopping it up. I had to return the kayak early, so what I have now is all there is. You have to promise to 1. name it after me 2. send me a rooted cutting if mine fail to root I've marked the bottom with sharpie markers. I have some cuttings from nearby fig trees that may be the same type judging from the white spots, and some other trees with no figs. Tell me if you want those unknowns, too. And if you want cuttings of the adriatic, let me know. Be warned that the fig texture was very thick or viscous - some may not like that. Tell me how many cuttings you want. Purple is marked P, Yellow is marked Y, unknowns are unmarked. Trades are welcome. Send me your best tasting figs. I don't have celeste or atreano. All I do have is these wild ones and Chicago Hardy. I may have some missions if the gal actually did water them while I'm here in California... And Sue, if you can do the genetic analysis that would be great. This wild purple fig is less than half a mile from the wild yellow fig you identified.

Olaf- you will know for sure when they bloom. Hirsuta leaves are grass green and plushy soft. My Dark Velvet - i never paid attention to the softness of the leaves - do not think anything out of regular.Leaves are quite dark, stems are green - and for me it just refuses to put rhizomes, so when it gets too long - I reroot the cuttings. Try to post pics on the Gallery part of this forum - there is an instruction - plus you need to shrink the pic to 60k. But as I said - wait until it blooms. It likes hi light btw. send me a private email, pls. Irina