Variegated shrub for shade
Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—Northeast
See regional picks for variegated plants for shade, and read the article by Andy Brand for even more ideas.
“While the cool, shady areas have provided me with the opportunity to grow some of my favorite genera, they also have presented me with a fair share of challenges. One of the trickiest issues is figuring out how to brighten the border growing under a dense canopy or in those dark corners. Plants with showy flowers are an obvious solution, but usually their effect is transient, and all too often flowering is diminished with too much shade. An even better option is to incorporate plants with variegated foliage and let their leaves of white, cream, gold, and green bring light to the shade.” Read more in Plants That Shine in the Shade.
View the whole collection.
1. ‘Pamela Harper’ Italian Arum
Photo: courtesy of Far Reaches FarmArum italicum ‘Pamela Harper’Zones: 5–9
Size: 8 to 12 inches tall and 2 feet wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; rich, evenly moist soil
Native range: Southern and Western Europe
This tuberous perennial is best known for its remarkable late winter foliage. In mid-autumn, new arrowhead-shaped leaves break ground, displaying silver-white mottling enhanced with dark green margins. Hooded green spathes emerge in early spring. These spathes encompass spadices adorned with small white flowers. The lovely foliage will die back as spring ends, but the remaining flower stalks develop orange-red fruit by autumn. Although the straight species can be aggressive in milder climates, the variegated forms are slower to expand, and ‘Pamela Harper’ has never been aggressive in my Zone 6a garden. This plant is poisonous, so few critters will disturb it.
2. ‘Silver Angel’ Japanese Shrub Mint
Photo: millettephotomedia.comLeucosceptrum japonicum ‘Silver Angel’Zones: 5–8
Size: 2 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
Yes, this shrubby plant from the mint family behaves like a deciduous perennial in colder climates, dying back to the ground, but the good news is that it doesn’t run! Compact in habit, ‘Silver Angel’ is distinguished from the species by having narrow 4-inch-long silver-gray leaves with dark green serrated edges.
Late blooming, this plant produces creamy yellow flowering spires in October that are attractive to pollinators. One more plus is that it’s deer resistant.
3. ‘Takeda Nishiki’ Variegated Japanese Tree Clethra
Photo: Steve AitkenClethra barbinervis ‘Takeda Nishiki’Zones: 6–8
Size: 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide
Conditions: Partial shade; evenly moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
The Japanese clethra has always been a favorite multiseason shrub or small tree of mine. It boasts fragrant drooping panicles of white blossoms (favored by honeybees) in early to midsummer, followed by attractive fall foliage and exfoliating bark in winter. ‘Takeda Nishiki’ offers all of the above qualities plus stunning variegated leaves. The new growth emerges pink, creating a colorful contrast to the white-splashed foliage. Because of the light pigment to the foliage, ‘Takeda Nishiki’ is a slower-growing plant than the species.
4. ‘Chequers’ Lamium
Photo: Michelle GervaisLamium maculatum ‘Chequers’Zones: 3–9
Size: 6 inches tall and 2 feet wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist to well-drained soil
Native range: Europe and Western Asia
It’s time to rediscover the oldies but goodies. Deer resistant and adaptable to various soil and light exposures, ‘Chequers’ lamium was one of the first shade perennials I ever planted and, without any fuss, it is still thriving more than 25 years later. How many plants can you say that about? This plant’s gray-green foliage boasts a central sliver of white, and in late spring and early summer, bee-pleasing lavender-purple flowers hover above the foliage. It does spread (it’s stoloniferous), forming a useful carpet of semi-evergreen foliage that takes on a plum purple cast in winter.
—Katherine Tracey co-owns Avant Gardens, a specialty nursery in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
23 of the Best Variegated Shrubs for Your Landscape
However, when they have eye-catching qualities, they suddenly pop into focus, increasing their garden value. A trait I particularly love is variegated leaves.
Foliage that is variegated has more than one color on each leaf. A pattern may be uniform, with all leaves the same, or random, with variation among the leaves.
Patterns include markings like streaking, blotching, spotting, and outlining in one or more colors. Sometimes they are a species’ natural tendency, but they can also be the result of rare genetic mutations.
When unusual coloration occurs, the presenting plant is called a “sport.” Thanks to the magic of plant breeding, sports can be reproduced and cross bred, for an ever-increasing array of shrubbery characteristics.
In this article, we bring you a roundup of 23 of our favorite variegated shrubs for the home garden.
23 of the Best Variegated Landscape Shrubs
- Abelia
- Azalea
- Boxwood
- Cape Jasmine
- Chinese Fringe Flower
- Cotoneaster
- Dogwood
- Euonymus
- Gold-Edged Winter Daphne
- Heavenly Bamboo
- Hebe
- Hydrangea
- Japanese Laurel
- Japanese Pittosporum
- Japanese Privet
- Leucothoe
- Lilac
- Lily of the Valley Shrub
- Oleander
- Rose of Sharon
- Spirea
- Weigela
- Yucca
With so many to choose from, I know you’re eager to get started, so here we go!
1.
AbeliaAbelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’ lives up to its name with lime green leaves edged in yellow that turn from bronze to orange and red hues as the growing season wears on.
It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 and is the longest blooming of all the Abelia species.
‘Kaleidoscope’ Abelia
This compact bush tops out at 36 inches tall, and varies in width from 36 to 40 inches. It’s a semi-evergreen that keeps its leaves in the warmest regions.
Pink buds and white blossoms in spring, as well as red-hued stems, accent an already jubilant foliar display.
‘Kaleidoscope’ requires a full sun to part shade location. It tolerates poor soil, heat, and drought, and is not attractive to deer.
Pot it up, add it to a mixed bed, create a friendly low perimeter hedge, or create a massed drift as desired. Its modest size guarantees versatility in the garden.
Find ‘Kaleidoscope’ now in #5 containers from Nature Hills Nursery.
2. Azalea
Semi-evergreen Bollywood® ‘Farrow’ azalea has dark green foliage with irregular cream or silver margins. It’s suited to Zones 5 to 9.
Azalea Bollywood® ‘Farrow’
A low-profile 18 to 24 inches high and 24 to 30 inches wide, this cheerful sweetheart is perfect for containers, beds, and borders.
It requires a full sun to part shade location, and benefits from winter shelter in the coldest regions, where it is likely to drop its leaves.
Be sure to choose a location that will be noticed by all, especially in springtime, when its magenta flowers burst into bloom.
Find Azalea Bollywood® ‘Farrow’ in quart containers available from Nature Hills Nursery.
Learn more about how to grow azaleas here.
3. Boxwood
Evergreen variegated boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata,’ is a new version of the old classic, with cream margins on dark green leaves.
It grows best in Zones 5 to 9, needs full sun to part shade, has above average heat and cold tolerance, and is deer resistant.
Variegated Boxwood
Mature heights are between five and eight feet, and widths range from five to six feet, providing ample material for sculpting into your wildest potted topiary dreams.
In the garden, try your hand at creating rectangular hedges or round ornamental specimens.
Find variegated boxwood cone-shaped topiaries now from Nature Hills Nursery in #5 containers.
Learn more about growing boxwood shrubs here.
4. Cape Jasmine
Cape jasmine, Gardenia jasminoides ‘Variegata,’ has glossy evergreen leaves randomly splotched with lime and dark green.
Gardenia jasminoides ‘Variegata.’ Photo by Mokkie, Wikimedia Commons, via CC BY-SA 3.0.Its luscious white flowers bloom from spring into summer, scenting the garden with sweetness in Zones 8 to 11.
A compact, rounded form, and a mature height and width of three to four feet make it ideal for cultivation as a standalone specimen. Grow it in a pot or plant in the garden as desired.
5. Chinese Fringe Flower
Loropetalum chinense ‘Jazz Hands’ is a Chinese fringe flower with pink and white splotched foliage that matures to deep purple.
It is a semi-evergreen for Zones 7 to 9 that drops its leaves in the coldest climates.
‘Jazz Hands’ Fringe Flower
A full sun to part shade location is required. Mature heights and widths range from four to six feet.
Springtime is party time, when bright pink flowers resembling tiny ribbons of crepe paper bloom.
Liven up drab areas of the garden with this exceptional and imposing form by using it alone or as a contrasting element with solid green shrubbery.
Find ‘Jazz Hands’ fringe flowers in two-gallon containers available from Home Depot.
If you want to add Chinese fringe flowers to your garden, check out our growing guide for full cultivation instructions.
6. Cotoneaster
Deciduous Cotoneaster horizontalis ‘Variegatus’ has small, glossy, rounded, dark green leaves with irregular white margins.
They shade dramatically to red and pink in the fall, when they are adorned with bright red berries.
Cotoneaster horizontalis ‘Variegatus.’ Photo via Alamy.It requires a full sun to part shade location and does best in Zones 5 to 7.
The branching pattern is unique, in that lateral stems alternate and arch, bending to form more of a dense, mounded ground cover than an upright shrub.
In the spring, the foliage is dotted with pink blossoms.
Mature heights are up to three feet tall and wide. Salt and pollution are well tolerated, making this a sensible option for roadside placements that offers a measure of privacy without obstructing the view.
Read more about caring for cotoneaster here.
7. Dogwood
Cornus alba ‘Crmizam’ also known as Creme de Mint™ dogwood, is a cultivar of Siberian dogwood.
It has light green deciduous leaves with cream margins, and thrives in Zones 3 to 8.
The name refers to its unique chartreuse stems.
Creme de Mint™ Dogwood
In full sun to part shade, it grows to a compact four to five feet tall and wide, with an upright, rounded growth habit.
It tolerates salt and pollution, and is a striking ornamental specimen when planted in mixed groupings.
Seasonal accents include white blossoms in spring, and bluish-white berries in autumn.
Find Creme de Mint™ dogwood from Nature Hills Nursery in #3 containers.
8. Euonymus
Evergreen Euonymus fortunei ‘Moonshadow’ euonymus has red stems and contrasting glossy green leaves with irregular yellow margins.
The yellow deepens throughout the growing season, and shades to pink hues in fall.
Euonymus fortunei ‘Moonshadow’
Suited to Zones 5 to 10, ‘Moonshadow’ prefers full sun to part shade and is tolerant of a variety of soils.
It has petite dimensions of just one to two feet tall and wide. Creeping branches form an irregular, rounded shape with tremendous textural appeal.
An excellent filler in beds, borders, containers, and mixed groupings, it sets off yellow- and red-toned perennials to best advantage.
Find ‘Moonshadow’ plants in #1 containers available from Nature Hills Nursery.
Find tips on growing Euonymus shrubs here.
9. Gold-Edged Winter Daphne
Gold-edged winter daphne, Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata,’ is an evergreen shrub with glossy, thick green leaves edged subtly in yellow. It grows in Zones 7 to 9, where it is appreciated for its winter hardiness.
Gold-Edged Winter Daphne. Photo via Alamy.Choose a location with part shade for best results. Expect mature heights of two to four feet and widths from three to four feet.
And as it lacks even the slightest hint of menacing thorns, gold-edged winter daphne’s cut stems are a welcome addition to holiday decor.
Mass plant in drifts and mixed groupings, or use as a standalone specimen.
Highly scented red-purple flowers bloom in late winter to early spring, and red berries herald the arrival of fall, providing bold pops of contrasting color.
Get more info on winter daphne care here.
10. Heavenly Bamboo
Evergreen Nandina domestica ‘Twilight’ is a multicolored version of a shrub commonly known as heavenly or sacred bamboo – however, it is not bamboo.
It has medium to dark green leaves splashed with bright white, and grows in Zones 6 to 9.
Nandina domestica ‘Twilight’
This compact bush has a clumping form with mature dimensions of three to four feet tall and wide. Upright, slightly arching canes characterize its airy growth habit.
There may be nondescript white blossoms.
Cultivation is easy in both the garden and containers where there is full sun to part shade.
It’s relaxed form and varied pigmentation play well against more formal green shrubs in mixed groupings.
Find ‘Twilight’ plants now from Nature Hills Nursery.
Find tips on growing heavenly bamboo here.
11. Hebe
Hebe x andersonii ‘Variegata’, aka Anderson’s hebe, is an evergreen for Zones 7 to 10. It has glossy, gray-green leaves with irregular cream to white margins.
They are arranged in pairs, creating a telescoping appearance. With cool temperatures, the foliage can take on a purple hue.
Hebe x andersonii ‘Variegata’
Above the colorful upright foliage, purple flowers cluster in terminal spikes that appear in summertime.
A full sun to part shade location is required. Mature dimensions are a modest two to three feet tall and wide. Show it off as a specimen in containers and mixed beds, or mass plant.
Find starter plants now available from Amazon.
12. Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Mariesii Variegata,’ a deciduous variegated lacecap hydrangea is a bigleaf variety for Zones 5 to 9 that has medium green leaves highlighted by irregular cream-colored margins.
Showy flattened flower heads are pink in alkaline soil and blue in acidic, and have a lacy edge of white blossoms around their edges, for a romantic cottage garden feel. They bloom in summer.
This shrub prefers a partially shaded location, and doesn’t do well with too much sun. It has a rounded, mounding growth habit.
Mature heights and widths reach four to five feet, a useful medium size for foundation plantings, mass groupings, mid-story placements, and stand-alone specimens.
Learn more about how to grow hydrangeas in this guide.
13. Japanese Laurel
Japanese Laurel, Aucuba japonica ‘Gold Dust,’ is an evergreen shrub that sports glossy, thick dark green leaves with yellow spots. It is best suited to Zones 7 to 10.
Aucuba japonica ‘Gold Dust’
Unlike many plants that do best with some sun, this one requires a full shade location, and can actually scorch if it is exposed to too much light.
The overall shape is round and the foliage is dense. Mature dimensions are four to six feet tall and wide. Resistance to deer and drought tolerance are above average.
Best uses include shade gardens, foundation plantings, understory (beneath tree canopy) hedging, and mixed shrub groupings.
Find ‘Gold Dust’ now in 9.25-inch pots available at Home Depot.
14. Japanese Pittosporum
Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegatum’ is an evergreen for Zones 8 to 11. It has thick, glossy gray-green leaves with cream margins.
In the spring it bears clusters of small, fragrant white blossoms. As the season wears on, berry-like light green fruits open to reveal orange-red seeds within.
Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegatum’
This is a large, mounding shrub with mature heights of eight to 12 feet and widths of 12 to 18 feet.
Also known as mock orange, it’s waterwise and can withstand some drought. Exposure to salt and pollution are not a problem.)/picsinfull/osmanthus_hetero_variegatus.jpg)
Best uses include mass plantings, hedging, and privacy screening. Prune as desired for tree-like potted ornamentals.
Find Japanese pittosporum plants in 2.5-gallon containers available from Home Depot.
15. Japanese Privet
Variegated Ligustrum japonicum ‘Variegatum’ is a twist on the typical privet, which we take for granted to be a dense and dependable hedge.
However, with the addition of a cream leaf margin, suddenly there’s depth and texture that beg for a second glance.
Ligustrum japonicum ‘Variegatum.’This is an evergreen that thrives in full sun in Zones 7 to 10. It can reach mature heights of 10 feet and widths of six feet, and can be pruned to dimensions of your choice.
Tiny white flowers bloom in spring.
A modern take on an old classic, the highlighted foliage offers a texturally rich backdrop to specimen plantings in a manicured landscape.
16. Leucothoe
Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ is an evergreen with foliage splashed in cream, green, pink, and red, for an eclectic look in Zones 5 to 9.
Red leaf petioles add to the cacophony of color, and in spring, pendant clusters of tiny white, bell-shaped blossoms grace the arching branches of this mounding bush.
‘Rainbow’ prefers shady locations with some sun, where it grows to a mature height and width of three to five feet.
Best uses include mass plantings in foundation and perimeter borders, as well as ornamental specimens.
17. Lilac
Variegated lilac, Syringa vulgaris ‘Aucubaefolia,’ has medium green leaves splashed with yellow, for an unexpected twist on this plant’s typical green foliage in Zones 3 to 7.
Syringa vulgaris ‘Aucubaefolia.’ Photo by Хомелка, Wikimedia Commons, via CC BY-SA 4.0.In spring, with its fragrant lavender-blue blossoms in full swing, it’s a heady attraction.
In full sun locations, it can reach a mature height and width of 10 feet, for a commanding presence.
Allow it to fill out, or prune it like a small tree.
Plant en masse if you have the space, or as a standalone focal point.
You can learn more about how to grow lilacs in this guide.
18. Lily of the Valley Shrub
While pieris is an evergreen landscape staple, particularly in formal settings, the variegated variety, Pieris japonica ‘Variegata,’ is somewhat more playful and attention seeking with creamy white margins on its spear-shaped foliage.
Pieris japonica ‘Variegata.’At home in full sun to part shade, it does best in Zones 6 to 9, where its compact height and width of three to five feet offer versatility.
Best uses include mass plantings, friendly hedges, and potted or garden focal specimens. Plants generally don’t appeal to foraging deer.
19. Oleander
Variegated oleander, Nerium oleander ‘Variegata,’ is a tropical evergreen that has spear-shaped medium green leaves with irregular cream-colored margins.
It grows in Zones 9 to 11, and has fragrant clusters of bright pink flowers from summer into fall.
Nerium oleander ‘Variegata’
This is an upright plant with a rounded shape that grows to impressive heights of 10 to 18 feet and widths of 10 to 15 feet. With artful pruning, you can shape it like a tree if desired.
Group several for privacy screening, or plant individually. Tolerance of drought, poor soil, and pollution are above average.
Find variegated oleander plants in two-gallon containers available from Home Depot.
Read more about growing oleander shrubs here.
20. Rose of Sharon
The deciduous white-tipped, blue-green foliage of rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Sugar Tip,’ does indeed appear to have been dipped ever so slightly into confectioner’s sugar.
And to round out the confection, it has flouncy pink double-petal flowers that bloom in summer.
‘Sugar Tip’ Rose of Sharon
Best in locations with part sun in Zones 5 to 9.
‘Sugar Tip’ has mature heights of five to six feet, and a spread of four to six feet.
Use as a mid-story mass planting, privacy hedge, or specimen in mixed cottage garden beds.
You can find ‘Sugar Tip’ rose of Sharon starter plants available from Burpee.
Read more about growing rose of Sharon here.
21. Spirea
Spirea is a powerhouse in the landscape, and this variegated cultivar, Spiraea japonica Double Play ® Painted Lady® ‘Minspi,’ is no exception.
With vibrant foliage splashed by a euphoric artist in cream, yellow, and medium green, it never fails to dazzle in Zones 4 to 8.
Spiraea japonica ‘Minspi’
And as if that weren’t enough, in addition to the foliar highlights, there are fuzzy magenta spring blooms for bright color and rich texture.
At home in full sun to part shade, it’s two- to three-foot height and width render it a top selection for gardening in small spaces.
It is also noteworthy for its deer and drought resistance.
Find Double Play ® Painted Lady® ‘Minspi’ in one-gallon containers available from Home Depot.
Learn how to grow spirea in your garden here.
22. Weigela
Deciduous Weigela florida ‘My Monet’ has bright green leaves with irregular cream margins accented by pink.
It is especially attractive from spring into summer, when a profusion of trumpet-shaped pink flowers appears.
Weigela florida ‘My Monet’
Perfect for full sun locations in Zones 4 to 6, it is a low-profile plant with mature heights and widths of 12 to 18 inches.
Best uses include beds, borders, and containers, both grouped and alone.
This plant is noteworthy for its deer resistance.
Find Weigela florida ‘My Monet’ plants in one-gallon containers available from Home Depot.
23. Yucca
Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’ has vertical leaves with dark green margins and creamy yellow centers that are stemless and sword-like, for a bold structural statement.
It is a tropical evergreen for Zones 4 to 10.
Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’
The foliage is approximately three feet tall with an equal spread. In summer, a stalk rises five feet or more, and produces a panicle of bell-shaped, cream-colored blossoms.
Resistant to cold, drought, heat, and humidity, as well as deer and rabbits, this is a hardy water-wise shrub that is appropriate for both xeriscaping and container gardening.
Find plants in one-quart containers available from Nature Hills Nursery.
Learn more about growing yucca plants here.
A Stylish Staple
As you can see, there are quite a few variegated shrubs.
As the mid-story workhorses of the garden, as well as standalone full size and compact specimens, their varied hues are sure to increase the visual appeal of your landscape.
When shopping for bushes with an array of leaf coloration, you may find testaments to their “stability.
” Take this with a grain of salt, as the cultivated “sports” we discussed at the beginning of this article, may undergo “reversion.”
This is a process of regressing back to the traits of the original parent plant.
What does this mean for you?
One day, you may find a stem with leaves that look nothing like the rest of the bush. They are most likely solid green. This a throwback to the parent plant that produced the original sport.
Solid green leaves have more chlorophyll than multicolored ones, so they are likely to grow faster than the rest.
To prevent them from becoming dominant, you’ll need to prune off all non-variegated stems at their points of origin.
My euonymus does this occasionally. With regular monitoring, I have been able to remove the solid green leaf stems and retain the variegation of the foliage.
Now it’s time to choose your favorites!
Be sure to note the sun requirements of each, as the proper amount of light contributes to their most vivid coloration.
Get out your garden planner today and add variegated shrubs to your list. They’re a stylish version of a landscape staple you’re sure to love.
What variegated shrubs grow in your garden? Have you dealt with reversion? Please tell us in the comment section below, and feel free to share a picture!
And for more information about growing shrubs in your garden, check out these guides next:
- 13 of the Best Evergreen Shrubs for Your Garden
- Create a Sustainable Landscape with Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern US
- Why Autumn is the Best Time for Planting Shrubs
© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Burpee, Home Depot, Nature Hills Nursery, and Risalana. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.
Variegated garden shrubs: Top 12 variegated varieties
Shrubs always add structure and depth to a garden landscape.
However, when they still have attractive qualities, they increase their value for the garden, especially variegated shrubs. It is impossible not to notice such plantings in the yard or in the country. But what to choose for your garden? We have compiled a list of variegated forms of shrubs and share some tips on how to use them in decorating a garden plot.
Contents of the article
- 1 What are variegated shrubs and what is their peculiarity
- 2 Which deciduous variegated shrubs should you pay attention to
- 2.1 Blooming weigela (Weigela florida 'variegata')
7 variegata')
- 2.3 Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'variegata')
- 2.4 Horizontal cotoneaster (Cotoneaster atropurpureus 'variegatus')
- 2.5 Deren White 'Elegantissima' (Cornus alba 'Elegantissima')
- 2.6 Kerriy Japanese 'Picta' (Kerria Japonica Variegata or 'Picta')
2 English variegated holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Argenteo Marginata') their feature
Variegated (variegated) shrubs, in essence, are artificially bred varieties of ordinary bush crops that have received characteristics from parent plants. Variegated foliage has more than one color per leaf plate.
The pattern may be uniform, with all leaves the same, or random, with variations between leaves on different branches. Variegation can sometimes be a natural tendency of the species, but can occasionally be the result of rare genetic mutations. Through the magic of breeding, these types of plants can be reproduced and crossed to obtain the ornamental characteristics of shrubs.
Amazing leaf colors make variegated shrubs more decorative and popular with landscapers.
Variegated shrubs can be conditionally divided into two groups - evergreen and deciduous. To the group of evergreens, it is also worth adding a few coniferous shrubs with variegated needles.
Which variegated deciduous shrubs are worth paying attention to
Let's briefly describe the common variegated forms of bush plants shedding their leaves for the winter.
Weigela florida ‘variegata’ (Weigela florida ‘variegata’)
A variegated shrub that decorates the garden landscape with white and pale pink flowers from spring to autumn. But, a distinctive feature of this variety is green foliage with creamy white edges.
This low growing plant, 30 cm to 50 cm high and wide, is ideal for sunny locations. Best used in flower beds, as a border plant or planted in pots.
Viburnum lantana ‘variegata’ (Viburnum lantana ‘variegata’)
Shrub with a spherical crown up to 2 m high, rather branchy with a dense crown.
Notable for its light and dark green leaves interspersed with a golden hue.
Although slower growing than its green-leaved relatives, this variegated cultivar produces profuse, unscented white flowers followed by green to red to black fruits.
Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘variegata’)
Deciduous rounded shrub with bright green foliage surrounded by white margins. Fast growing bush reaches 2 meters in height and width.
Blooms in early summer in round clusters of small pinkish white flowers. Ideal for borders, planting as a focal plant or mass plantings, adding vibrant color to shady gardens.
Horizontal cotoneaster (Cotoneaster atropurpureus ‘variegatus’)
Mature plant reaches one meter in height and width. In spring, it produces small, shiny, round, dark green leaves with jagged white edges.
In autumn they change dramatically to red and pink, in addition to bright red berries.
White Derain ‘Elegantissima’ (Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’)
Deciduous shrub belonging to the dogwood family. In adulthood, it reaches a height and width of up to 3 meters. Frost-resistant, can be planted in the northern regions. In spring, bright gray-green leaves appear with wide edges of pure white.
This variegation remains bright and does not fade in summer. In autumn, the color of the leaves changes to gold, apricot and rose red. When the leaves fall before winter, its bright red stems appear, adding decorativeness to the winter garden.
Kerria japonica variegata or ‘Picta’ (Kerria japonica variegata or ‘Picta’)
Kerria japonica Picta is a graceful deciduous, low-growing, broadly rounded, slow growing shrub with very decorative grey-green leaves and a cream border. It grows up to two meters in height.
Flowers profuse, yellow, five-petalled, rose-like. Loves partial shade.
It is also worth mentioning another variegated variety of Kerria Albomarginata - with simple flowers and graceful leaves, framed by a white border.
You may be interested
Choosing evergreen variegated shrubs for the garden
The variety of this group is quite large and there is plenty to choose from. Let's describe the most popular varieties of bush plants with variegated foliage.
Forchun's variegated euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Aureo-Variegata’)
There are several species with developed variegated varieties (‘Gracillimus’, ‘Coloratus’, etc.). Let's describe the most popular - Fortune's Euonymus variegated (variegated). An evergreen representative of undersized shrubs.
Creeping variety, up to 0.5 m high. Sometimes used as a creeper. The rounded dark green leaves of this species have jagged white edges. Leaves turn pink in autumn and winter. Tiny greenish-white flowers give way to pinkish-red, pea-sized fruits.
English variegated holly (Ilex aquifolium ‘Argenteo Marginata’)
Medium-sized evergreen subshrub with conical shape, spiny, wavy leaves bordered in cream and pink.
Flowers small, dull white, bright red berries. Such bushes will unforgettably decorate your garden in the winter. In adulthood, it reaches 4.5 meters. But it is easy to form a crown, because of which the height of the plant can be reduced by regularly cutting.
Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum 'Variegatum')
Upright evergreen shrub with glossy evergreen leaves, growing profusely on upright spreading branches. It grows up to 3.60 m in height and 4.5 m in width.
Round foliage with creamy white margins and spots. Small creamy-white flowers appear in late spring - early summer. Often the Variegatum variety is used as an ordinary shrub or in a hedge.
Evergreen Variegated Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’)
Variegated form of an old classic shrub.
Variegated Boxwood has attractive green foliage with creamy white margins.
The small glossy oval leaves are very decorative and stay green all winter. Neither the flowers nor the fruits are decorative. It needs full sun or partial shade and is resistant to both heat and cold.
Sweet wolfberry (Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’)
Evergreen shrub with glossy thick green leaves edged with yellow. For planting, choose a place with partial shade.
At maturity, the plant will reach up to 1.5 meters in height and width. Fragrant reddish-purple flowers bloom from late winter to early spring, and red berries herald the arrival of autumn.
Recommended for mass planting in groups or in mixed planting, can also be used as a standalone plant.
Eleagnus pungens ‘Variegata’
Autumn flowering evergreen broad-leaved plant with variegated leaf margins. Mature shrubs have a height and width of about 3 meters.
'Maculata' has yellow leaves with green edges and a copper underside, while 'Clemson Variegated' has white leaves with a green border. The small autumn flowers have an aroma often reminiscent of Gardenia.
A few tips for choosing and caring for variegated shrubs
When buying shrubs with multi-colored leaves, sellers can claim that the diversity of shrubs will be stable for many years. Take this with a grain of salt, as the cultivated varieties we described above can undergo "reversion" - the process of returning to the traits of the original parent plant.
What does this mean? Once upon a time on your favorite bush, you may find a branch or several with solid green leaves. This is a throwback to the mother plant that produced this variety.
Green leaves have more chlorophyll than variegated leaves, so they will sometimes grow more actively than others. To prevent green leaves from becoming dominant, you need to prune all stems with non-variegated leaves.
Variegated varieties need regular inspection for green leaves.
Be sure to pay attention to the sun requirements of the shrub crop, as the right amount of light will produce the most vibrant foliage color. Some forms lose their variegation if there is too much or too little sunlight. Use shadow lovers in low light areas where they will retain their brilliance.
Place variegated bushes as an accent against ordinary plants. They stand out best against a contrasting background with the green mass of the flower bed.
Keep your plants in top condition by taking care of them and properly tending your bushes. Generally, variegated crops with lots of white or yellow on the leaves need more sun. Even plants in the shade need some light for at least 4 hours a day to produce photosynthesis for good health.
It is a common misconception that variegated plants should not be planted next to each other. This is not true! Just be sure to vary the size and shape of each plant's leaves to make it stand out from its variegated neighbors.
The article uses photos from the resource flickr.com
Variegated woody plants in dachas
More than once on the site in contests, comments appeared variegated plants growing with our users in dachas, but so far there has not been an article worthy of these surprisingly beautiful and interesting forms, so I will try to fill this gap.
Large-leaved hydrangea 'Variegata'
They are loved, they are often assigned the role of dominants and accents in various plant garden compositions, and they successfully cope with the role of leaders with all responsibility and bright appearance.
Spanish reed variegated and dwarf variegated bamboo - a wonderful duo
Once upon a time variegated tree bamboos fascinated me so much that they became the subject of my research and PhD thesis.
Japanese variegated akuba - the subject of my Ph.D.
Why variegated plants are good: conclusions for summer residents
- Variegated forms are not freaks, but normal plants that require a little more attention than their original green species.
Once found in nature and fixed in culture, they are successfully grown today in almost every nursery. Some of them themselves gave new interesting forms with yellow, white, cream borders, spots, specks; pure yellow variations appeared, marble with white, yellow, green, gray inserts; with constant variegation or ephemeral, manifested in a certain period of the year.
Variegated oval-leaved privet blooms, but its beauty is not in bloom, but in leaves ). Olya cuts green shoots from the variegated oval-leaved privet In Russia, variegated forms of woody plants began to grow as early as the 17th-18th centuries. At first, they appeared in the greenhouses of St. Petersburg from abroad as a result of expeditions by botanists, private individuals - wealthy patrons who brought plants in the service and as a gift. Then, from the northern capital, they moved to state-owned botanical gardens on the southern coast of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, and then, multiplied, to southern parks, garden establishments, and greenhouses in Russia. American agave ( Agave americana) 'Marginata' ('Fringed leaf') is an exotic succulent plant from the Agave family of the same name, with a powerful rosette of thick fleshy leaves, up to 1-2 in height m, it reaches a width of 2-3 m. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, leathery, pointed at the top, up to 1-2 m long, with a yellow border and spikes along the edge. 0167 Aucuba japonica)
Japanese euonymus yellow-and-white on a trunk in the park LOK Aivazovskoye, Partenit
Currently, the choice of variegated trees is quite diverse and it is simply unrealistic to talk about most deciduous trees in a small post, so we will only get acquainted with a few.
1. American agave 'Marginata'
It does not hibernate in open ground, but it is successfully used in various flower beds, often on parterres, planting it in open ground for the summer (in winter it is again transplanted into pots, tubs and placed in frost-free rooms; temperature minimum + 5 ° С). It is drought-resistant, but in hot, dry summers it needs watering.
American agave 'Bordered leaf' 2. Japanese aukuba 'Variegata'
A very effective representative of the Cornel / Aucub family. The leaves are glossy, dark green, leathery, dotted with yellow spots.
Japanese aucuba variegated in winter in the park
It grows slowly: the size of a small bush suitable for planting in a permanent place (about 0.5 m) reaches 4-5 years. It tolerates shade well, it “burns out” in the spring sun, while the leaves turn black. It is easily propagated by cuttings all year round; cuttings placed in water quickly give roots even in summer.
3. Great Periwinkle 'Variegata'
Great Periwinkle ( Vinca major ) 'Variegata' ('Variegata') is an excellent evergreen ground cover plant from the Kutrovye family. On sale, it can also be found under the name Vinca major 'Elegantissima'. Leaves with an irregular creamy yellow border. All year round it spreads in rockeries, hanging from low retaining walls. It has been cultivated since 1838
Large variegated periwinkle
4.
Fortune's euonymus 'Emerald'n Gold' Fortune's euonymus ( Euonymus fortunei) 'Emerald'n Gold' ('Emerald gold') is an evergreen ground cover shrub from the Euonymus family up to 1 m high, can spread wide up to 90 cm. The leaves are ovate to elliptical, bright green, with a wide yellow border, which “burns out” with age, brightens, and acquires a carmine-red hue in winter.
Fortune's Euonymus 'Emerald Gold'
Effective in stony gardens. From it you can arrange sheared colorful "golden" borders. In the northern regions, it can be grown as a substitute tub culture, taken out in the summer to the open air, where it can be used in the design of an open terrace. It is the source of all garden forms of Fortune's euonymus called 'Emerald'.
5. Fortune's Euonymus 'Silver Queen'
Fortune's Euonymus ( E. fortunei) 'Silver Queen' is an evergreen perennial 2.5 m high or liana up to 6 m.
Leaves are dark green, white-motley, turning pink in winter.
Used in rockeries, the design of low retaining stone walls.
Fortune's euonymus 'Silver Queen'
Both of these decorative forms of Fortune's euonymus are thermophilic and are successfully used in open ground on the Southern coast of the Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory, in other regions they are grown in pots and tub stool culture.
Fortune's Euonymus 'Silver Queen' - Solitaire
6. Japanese spindle tree 'Aureovariegatus'
Japanese spindle tree ( E. japonicus) 'Aureovariegatus' ('Yellow-variegated') is a densely branched evergreen shrub up to 6 m high. It can be found commercially under the name E. japonicus ' Ovatus aureus. The leaves are leathery, shiny, dark green with an irregular yellow border.
Japanese Euonymus 'Yellow-motley'
In nurseries it is sometimes grown in standard form.
Grows slowly. It is exacting to moisture in the dry period. In the southern zone of horticulture, it is relatively frost-resistant: at a temperature of -18-20 ° C, the ends of the branches freeze over, but quickly recover; in central Russia, it can winter under snow with careful shelter. It tolerates shearing well and is one of the best evergreens for molded (rectangular profiled) dense hedges and borders.
All spindle trees, and especially b. Japanese, in the open field are often damaged by pests: scale insects, whitefly; affected by powdery mildew. You can't do without chemical treatments!
7. Oval-leaved privet 'Aureomarginatum'
Oval-leaved privet ( Ligustrum ovalifolium) ' Aureum' ('Golden-bordered') and 'Argenteum' ('Silver-bordered') privet. The first can still be found in nurseries and garden centers under the old name L. ovalifolium 'Aureomarginatum'.
oval-leaved privet 'Golden-bordered'
The first privet is a semi-evergreen shrub up to 3-4 m high and wide.
The leaves are oval-lanceolate, with a cream-yellow irregular border. The flowers are small, fragrant, collected in small brushes, flowering is long. However, the beauty of this shrub is not in flowering, but in its leaves.
The second has leaves with a creamy white border.
Privet Oval 'Silver'
Since this privet grows quickly and tolerates shearing, many designers are eager to use it for topiary figures. However, shearing leads to a massive appearance of green shoots developing from dormant buds, and if they are not removed, then the plants will soon become completely green-leaved.
Vladimir combines shearing of oval-leaved privet 'Golden-bordered' with removal of green shoots
This form is propagated by cuttings. It is undemanding to soils, but prefers well-lit places.
8. Red Elderberry 'Plumosa Aurea'
Red Elderberry ( Sambucus racemosa ) 'Plumosa Aurea' is a very showy deciduous shrub from the Honeysuckle family.
Leaves pinnately dissected golden. Forms bright spots, can "lighten" the semi-shady corners of the cottage. Excellent tapeworm (spectacular single tree).
Elder racemos 'Golden Feather'
9. Black elderberry 'Albovariegata'
Black elderberry ( S. nigra) 'Albovariegata' ('White-variegated') is a deciduous shrub up to 3-5 m high. The leaves are toothed with a white border. It is good in single and group plantings with green-leaved elderberry, against which its beauty becomes more noticeable.
Black elder 'White-motley'
10. Weigela blooming 'Variegata'
Weigela blooming ( Weigela florida) ' Variegata' ('Motley') is a deciduous shrub up to 2-2.5 m high and wide. The leaves are dark green with an irregular yellow border. Variegation does not interfere with flowering at all, but to say that it is a background for it would be wrong, because.
variegated leaves are good in themselves; and I want to consider each, because there are no identical!
Weigela 'Motley'
11. Large-leaved hydrangea 'Variegata'
Large-leaved hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla) 'Variegata' ('Motley') is a luxurious deciduous shrub 3 m high with a rounded crown. The leaves are dark green, elliptical, with an uneven white border, up to 20 cm long. Light-requiring, tolerates partial shade, demanding on soil and moisture. A very showy tapeworm, can be planted in a small group of two plants together with Hydrangea macrophylla, a green leafed variety.
12. Evergreen viburnum, or laurel leaf 'Variegatum'
Evergreen viburnum, or laurel leaf ( Viburnum tinus) ' Variegatum' ('Variegated') is an evergreen viburnum up to 2 m high and wide. The leaves are oval-pointed, dark green, with an irregular creamy yellowish border.
The flowers are white, pink in buds, collected in flat corymbose inflorescences; bloom all year round, but most massively in winter.
It is more effective in shading on fertile, loose, neutral soils in solitary, group plantings, colorful hedges.
Evergreen viburnum 'variegated'
13. Viburnum viburnum 'Aureovariegata'
Viburnum viburnum, whole-leaved ( Viburnum lantana) 'Aureovariegata' ('Yellow-variegated') is a densely leafy fast-growing shrub up to 3 m high with white-tomentose young shoots. The leaves are wrinkled, dark green with golden yellow spots, tomentose, ovate to oval, 6-12 cm long. The flowers are creamy white, collected in umbellate inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter; bloom in May-June. The fruits are elliptical drupes, initially red, later shiny, black, sweetish; ripen in August-September. Decorative throughout the growing season.
Viburnum gordovin 'Yellow-variegated'
It is winter-hardy, shade-tolerant, unpretentious, tolerates slight soil salinity, resistant in urban conditions.
Propagated by cuttings.
14. Common hazel 'Aurea'
Common hazel ( Corylus avellana) ' Aurea' ('Golden') is a luxurious deciduous shrub (3-4 m). Young leaves are bright yellow, then turning green, round-broadly ovate, 6-12 cm long. They are used in solitary plantings throughout the European part of Russia (in the north to St. Petersburg - Kirov) and neighboring states. Winter-hardy. Light-requiring, tolerates partial shading (but loses its "gold"), demanding on soil fertility and moisture, does not tolerate dry, saline, swampy. It can be damaged by hazel bud mites, catkin gall midge and affected by brown leaf spot, powdery mildew, white peripheral rot of wood. Propagated by layering, dividing the bush.
Common hazel 'Golden'
Since ancient times hazel has been revered by Slavic and other peoples. The Slavs dedicated it to the god of thunder and lightning Perun. According to an old Slavic myth, thunder rolls are nothing more than the sounds of cracking nut shells that Perun ate during a thunderstorm.
The ancient Germans believed that the fruits of hazel have miraculous powers, make their owners invulnerable, have a beneficial effect on the outcome of the battle, are able to put out the fire, tame the storm.
15. Prickly goof 'Variegata'
Prickly goof ( Elaeagnus pungens) 'Variegata' ('Variegata'). It has long been successfully used in winter gardens and open ground on the southern coast of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory. This is an evergreen shrub from the Lokhov family of the same name, 4-6 m high with spreading branches, usually with short, thick spines. Young shoots are covered with brown scales. The leaves are oblong-elliptical with a pointed or obtuse apex, 5-10 cm long, with a creamy yellow border along the edge Quite a shade-tolerant form, unpretentious to the soil, drought-resistant, frost-resistant in the southern horticultural zone: an adult plant tolerates -15...- without damage 18°C.
Grows well in urban environments.
Prickly wood 'Variegated'
Blooms in late autumn, bears fruit, but variegation is not inherited during seed propagation. Propagated by grafting. When sheared, it forms beautiful dense hedges, good in a spherical shape. Without pruning, as a climbing form, it is suitable for covering fences and walls. Possessing a well-developed root system, it grows well on dry slopes, where the variegation “wins” even more in the sun. It is only necessary to cut out the green branches that sometimes appear.
16. Holly holly 'Silver Queen'
Holly holly Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Queen'. This form of holly may be found commercially under the name 'Silver King'. Very spectacular evergreen shrub up to 6 m high and up to 4 m wide, with a wide rounded crown. The leaves are dark green, hard, leathery, broadly oval, prickly-toothed, with a regular creamy-white border, 4.5 to 7 cm long.
Holly holly 'Silver Queen'
It grows well on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory and the southern coast of Crimea. Withstands frosts down to -18...-20ºС. Photophilous, withstands partial shade, suffers from dry soil and air, prefers light, moist soils. It can be damaged by aphids, mining moths and sometimes affected by phytophthora. Propagated by green cuttings, layering. An excellent tapeworm for ceremonial places in the country.
17. Common ivy 'Goldheart'
Common ivy ( Hedera helix) 'Goldheart' is a fast growing vine with aerial sucker roots. Shoots reddish-pink, brown with age. The leaves are 3-lobed, dark green with a pronounced yellow spot in the center. On the southern coast of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, it is winter-hardy, grows well in sunny places and in partial shade, and needs regular watering in summer.
Ivy 'Golden Heart'
18.
Canary ivy 'Gloire de Marengo' Canary ivy ( H. canariensis ) 'Gloire de Marengo' ('Souvenir from Marengo') is a luxurious ivy with wine-red shoots and large leaves up to 11 cm. The latter are green-gray in color and have white-yellow irregular edges. This variegated form of Canarian ivy is currently the most common houseplant in Europe and America; in the Mediterranean countries - an excellent variety for open ground.
Canarian ivy 'Souvenir from Marengo'
19. Common ivy 'Glacier'
Common ivy ( H. helix ) 'Glacier'. One of my favorite ivy varieties. Climbing or slightly creeping plant with green-violet shoots. The leaves are unequal in size and depth of cuts, the edges are variegated, unevenly white, the middle is silver-gray and dull green, speckled. Currently, millions of hobbyists grow this silver-gray ivy in Europe and America. The plant became known during the Second World War.
On the southern coast of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory, it is winter-hardy, unpretentious, beautifully covers low stone walls, it is often used in container compositions with ampelous annuals and perennials.
Common ivy 'Glacier'
Fans of variegated compact shrubs living in the southern regions often stop their choice on this particular plant. He is good for everyone! Small, motley, like a living toy, grows slowly, keeping its shape, tolerates a haircut well. The leaves are oval, dark green, yellow-edged.
Grows well in dachas located in the Southern Horticulture Zone. It can withstand temperature drops to -20 ... -22ºС without damage, winters under snow at the latitudes of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Shade-tolerant, but variegation is more pronounced in sunny places, loves calcareous, fertile soils, does not like waterlogging. In recent years, it has often become damaged by aphids, spider mites and affected by diseases.
Propagated by cuttings. Effective in rockeries, it can be used to arrange a colorful molded dense border. 10-15 plants are placed on each linear meter, which are then regularly trimmed from spring to the end of summer.
Evergreen boxwood 'Yellow-edged'
The leaves are bronze-red when blooming, mature - intense yellow to green, 2-8 cm long. Dark pink flowers in many-flowered corymbose inflorescences, completing annual shoots; bloom continuously in June-July-August. It is successfully grown throughout the European part of Russia (in the north to St. Petersburg - Kirov - Perm) and neighboring states.
23. Pleioblastus variegated
Pleioblastus variegated ( P. variegates , syn. Arundinaria fortunei, A. variegata ) is a small bamboo up to 75 cm high and up to 1.2 m wide. Leaves with green and white stripes , 14 cm long. Effective in various compositions in the southern dachas and in pots, tubs in the design of open terraces in the summer in other regions.
