The draw of variegated leaves is in the eye of the beholder, with the right pairings, a stately, broad leaf with a tailored creamy stripe or a delicate white dusting on leaves sparkles in the arrangement with handsome highlights. Pink speckles add a splash, while gold patterning creates a tapestry of color among greens.
Feature variegated plants as specimens or arrange them in groups for impact. Incorporate the showy growers with thoughtful consideration of plant combinations. Sometimes, “just enough” crosses over into too much of a good thing. An overload of variegated options can be busy and lose the highlighting effect.
Whether tailored and refined or random and whimsical, choose variegated leaves that appeal to your garden aesthetic. While distinctive on their own, they also add to the overall display by complementing different blooms, leaf colors, and textures. Accentuate the arrangement and punch up the plant collection with these unique, multitoned foliage plants.
What Is Variegation?
Variegated plants may grow more slowly than their true green relatives.
Variegation is two or more colors on a single leaf. The color differences result from random mutations, select genetics through cultivation, and natural variations. Viruses and deficiencies also cause localized variations.
The color patterns may be stable, like along leaf margins or in the middle of the leaf. Or they may be blotched, mottled, streaked, or speckled at random.
Variegation results from changes in chlorophyll uptake and amounts. White, cream, yellow, chartreuse, and other colors replace the green, chlorophyll pigment part of the leaf. They don’t uptake chlorophyll and rely on the green portions for photosynthesis.
Variegated plants may grow more slowly than their true green relatives. They may need brighter or less light. Some stems may revert to green as new growth emerges. Prune out reverted branches to retain variegation.
Cast Iron Plant ‘Variegata’
Clip off tattered or winter-damaged fronds for a fresh appearance and new growth.
Cast iron plant has tall, broad, sculptural leaves that happily infill dry, shady areas. ‘Variegata’ (synonym ‘Okame’) adds dramatic interest with dark green leaves with wide ivory bands.
‘Ippin’ is another selection from Japan with handsome creamy white-striped leaves in a range of widths. For a splash of contrast, look to ‘Milky Way’ with compact leaves and dotted clusters of speckled yellow-white galaxies.
With good drainage, Aspidistra grows in both dry and moist soils. Clip off tattered or winter-damaged fronds for a fresh appearance and new growth. Where not hardy, grow cast iron in containers as houseplants or to overwinter indoors.
Acanthus ‘Whitewater’
Acanthus grows with little maintenance in dry or moist soils as long as they’re well-draining.
Like cast iron plant, Acanthus features architectural foliage in deep, glossy green. Its thick, broad leaves are deeply cut and unfurl on arching stems. These are the stately leaves that adorn the tops of Corinthian columns from ancient Rome.
‘Whitewater’ splashes with bright, creamy white along margins and surfaces. In addition to its unique foliage are tall bloom spikes of pinky-white flowers with deep purple bracts. These emerge in summer and last for weeks.
Acanthus grows with little maintenance in dry or moist soils as long as they’re well-draining. It makes a beautiful grouped planting for impact.
Dogwood ‘Elegantissima’
Cut stems back in late winter for a new flush of growth.
We love what red-barked dogwoods bring to winter with fall color, berries, and bright red stems to warm a stark landscape. Now, they brighten spring, summer, and fall with bright white and green foliage.
C. alba ‘Elegantissima’ has attractive jade leaves with milky margins. ‘Bailhalo’ (Ivory Halo) has similar characteristics with a more rounded, compact habit at five to six feet tall. Both thrive in moist soils and form a natural thicket – beautiful in informal and naturalized plantings, hedges, and contained borders. Cut stems back in late winter for a new flush of growth.
C. kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ has dense foliage with white edges along wavy, gray-green leaves. Beautiful ivory blossoms complete the arrangement. These small Kousas slowly grow ten to twenty feet tall. ‘Wolf Eyes’ earned the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Daphne ‘Aureomarginata’
Winter daphne varieties bloom in winter through spring.
Daphne odora is among the most fragrant of the daphnes, and this variety of winter daphne is elegant in leaf, flower, and perfume. Winter daphne varieties bloom in winter through spring, delighting the cold-season garden with an intoxicating fragrance. Long, glossy green leaves have creamy yellow edges. Deep purple-pink blossoms emerge in late winter.
D. odora is native to China and Japan. ‘Aureomarginata’ is a bit more winter hardy than the species, down to about 10°F (-12°C). Where not hardy, plants overwinter in containers in sheltered areas protected from winter winds and freezing temperatures.
Other striking variegated D. odora cultivars include ‘Maejima,’ ‘Moonlight Parfait,’ and ‘Banana Split.’ Leaves have wide foliar margins in ivory-yellow tones contrasting the deep green and purple-pink bloom clusters. ‘Alba’ shines with ivory and blue-green foliage with crisp white blooms.
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’
Brunnera grows beautifully as a shady groundcover with heart-shaped leaves and blue flowers in spring.
‘Jack Frost’ cools the display with silvery foliage contrasting deep green venation and edging. A hardy Siberian native, Brunnera grows beautifully as a shady groundcover with heart-shaped leaves and blue flowers in spring.
‘Jack Frost’ is the Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial of the Year winner. This award goes to top-performing perennials based on their adaptability to a wide range of climates, low maintenance requirements, pest and disease resistance, and multi-season appeal.
Brunnera grows best in moist, well-draining soils. Plant ‘Jack Frost’ with hosta and ferns in woodland gardens for interest in texture and color.
Japanese Painted Fern
They do best when soils don’t dry out between waterings.
Japanese painted fern brightens shady zones with unique fronds in frosted white, purple, and silvery green. Frond color is especially striking in light shade locations, starting silvery in spring and turning more green as summer temperatures rise.
The feathery perennials are easy to grow, thriving in organically rich, well-drained, consistently moist soils. They do best when soils don’t dry out between waterings nor remain too wet.
For an especially beautiful combination, pair ferns with shade-loving ornamental grasses like sweet flag and Japanese forest grass. Plant them in groups among perennials like heuchera and hosta.
Heuchera
Heuchera needs rich, organic, well-draining soils for the best vigor.
Coral bells, also known as Heuchera, are North American native perennials and their cultivars. They have green, purple, bronze, black, red, or orange foliage in mottled tones with contrasting veins.
‘Solar Eclipse’ is a Heucherella with the best of Heuchera and Tiarella qualities. The leaves have chartreuse margins with deep burgundy-red centers. The color intensifies in summer heat rather than fading, as many multi-tonal selections do.
H. ‘Spearmint’ features silver leaves with dark green venation. Long-lasting bicolor flowers in deep and light pink emerge in summer. ‘Electric Plum’ is purple lavender with near-black veins and stems. With coral bells, the variegation is a striking blend of nearly endless options.
Pair coral bells with other shade-loving plants like hellebore, hosta, ferns, and brunnera for a showy combination of multi-season foliage and flowers. Heuchera needs rich, organic, well-draining soils for the best vigor. They’ll grow in full shade, though growth may be slower and pigment not as rich.
Lamium
Lamium needs rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Spotted deadnettle, or Lamium, lightens shady spots as a woodland groundcover with bright little leaves in silver, green, and gold. The low-growing plants spread through rooting stems to form a mat. Prolific pink, purple, or white flowers flush in late spring through early summer, with sporadic blooming until frost.
‘Orchid Frost’ is a disease-resistant variety with blue-green leaves and silver midveins. Its delicate flowers are pink. ‘Purple Dragon’ bears larger purple-pink flowers than other cultivars, with small silver leaves with wide green edges. ‘Pink Chablis’ is a top performer at plant trials. Clusters of lavender-pink flowers rise above silvery green leaves with dark borders.
Lamium needs rich, moist, well-drained soils, but overly wet conditions lead to crown and stem rot. Lamium spreads vigorously but is easily pulled to keep it in bounds.
Hydrangea ‘Mariesii Variegata’
‘Mariesii Variegata’ needs regular moisture for best growth, especially in intense summer heat.
This bigleaf hydrangea is unique in its pretty variegation and rich lacecap blooms. Minty blue-green leaves have creamy white margins, cooling the summer display.
Flat, lacecap flower clusters have blue or pink centers with light florets. ‘Mariesii Variegata’ needs regular moisture for best growth, especially in intense summer heat. Plants generally tolerate more shade in hot climates.
Use this variegated hydrangea in small groupings for impact or as a specimen in mixed plantings. Grow them in a container to enjoy the foliage and flowers up close.
Abelia ‘Miss Lemon’
The tough shrubs withstand heat, humidity, and dry conditions.
Abelia has small, glossy, pointed evergreen leaves. While delicate, their dense arrangement creates a lush look. Dainty tubular pink or white flower clusters burst from stems from summer until frost and attract pollinators.
‘Miss Lemon’ has sprays of creamy yellow foliage with green centers. Light pink flowers bloom in profusion and are long-lasting. For vibrant color, opt for ‘Kaleidoscope.’ Its color-shifting foliage changes from green and golden yellow in spring to red-orange in fall.
Abelia is disease, pest, and deer-resistant. These tough shrubs also withstand heat, humidity, and dry conditions.
Caryopteris ‘Snow Fairy’
The mounding plants take shearing and shaping well and divide easily.
While Caryopteris shows off with a mist of purple-blue flowers, ‘Snow Fairy’ is a highlight even when not in flower. Blousy, narrow leaves in jade have white margins. Deep lavender flowers create a cloud above the crisp, light foliage.
Caryopteris grows well in average, medium-moisture soils. It prefers loose, light loams and sandy conditions and tolerates periods of dryness. It withers in wet soils that lack drainage. The mounding plants take shearing and shaping well and divide easily.
Grow Caryopteris in the perennial border to fill and lighten the arrangement. It provides textural interest in addition to foliar contrast.
Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’
Abutilon thrives in various soil types as long as they are moist and well-draining.
A unique perennial, Abutilon has maple-shaped leaves and tropical flowers that lend a graceful look to the garden. Folded blooms are mallow-like and hang like Chinese lanterns.
‘Souvenir de Bonn’ has rich salmon-pink flowers in spring through fall. The variegated “maple” leaves are blue-green with antique white borders.
Abutilon thrives in various soil types as long as they are moist while well-draining. Consistent moisture is certainly key to the best growth for this plant. In areas where it’s not hardy, grow abutilon in a container so you can overwinter it indoors – it may continue blooming.
Epimedium ‘Pretty in Pink’
Fairy wings are rugged perennials that tolerate dry shade.
Epimediums, or fairy wings, have distinctive leaves, both shape and color. ‘Pretty in Pink’ is head-to-toe berry hues of rose, blush, and pale pink from its flowers to its leaves. Starry flowers on upright stems have pale pink spurs, deep pink backs, and rose centers.
‘Pretty in Pink’ has bright green heart-shaped leaves with bronze rose patterning. While deciduous, the leaves drop late in the cold season, providing extended interest. The blush Epimedium is an introduction of Plant Delights Nursery/Juniper Level Botanic Garden. An E. grandiflorum hybrid, it bears tough and vigorous qualities in a lovely form of floral sprays and foliage.
Fairy wings are rugged perennials that tolerate dry shade. Plant them in a group for low-growing, multi-season appeal under tree canopy or along woodland borders.
Phlox ‘Frosted Elegance’
Phlox grows best in organically rich, moist, and well-drained soils.
Tall garden phlox is an undeniable hallmark of the garden border. Showy flower clusters hold particularly long-lasting blooms in color-saturated hues.
‘Frosted Elegance’ is a top performer with the unique characteristic of variegated foliage. Creamy white brushstrokes highlight the margins of dark leaves for a striking contrast.
The blooms are white with pink centers, giving the plant a whitish-lilac appearance. In plant trials at the Chicago Botanic Garden, ‘Frosted Elegance’ was highly resistant to fungal diseases.
Phlox grows best in organically rich, moist, and well-drained soils. Providing plenty of air circulation, following appropriate sunlight conditions, and avoiding overhead watering promote overall health.
Tiarella
Tiarellas are low-maintenance plants that brighten deep shade.
Tiarella’s shapely leaves in colorful patterns offer high texture and contrast. A Heuchera relative, Tiarella is a tidy, compact plant with attractive mounded foliage. The native perennial complements a variety of planting styles, from woodland to naturalistic to pollinator to contemporary.
‘Neon Lights’ glows with bright green maple-shaped leaves with chocolatey feathered centers. Pinkish-white flowers appear in spring on stalks that reach 16” tall, wanding above foliage, and rebloom in fall. ‘Cutting Edge’ has rich, electric green dissected leaves with dark red midveins.
Tiarellas are low-maintenance plants that brighten deep shade. Given consistent moisture and a shady spot to grow, tiarella enchants with multi-season interest and easy care.
Hosta
Morning sun helps bright or variegated varieties to retain color and vibrance.
Hostas are quintessential dynamic, variegated foliage plants. In a range of shapes, from broad to strappy to curly and colorful patterns, hostas fill the border with foliar variation.
Hosta ‘Francee’ has dense, dark green leaves with irregular creamy white margins. ‘Patriot’ is a sport (genetic mutation) of ‘Francee.’ It has deep blue-green leaves with brush strokes of white along the margins. ‘Patriot’ is especially compact and heat-tolerant.
‘Stained Glass’ has huge, ten-inch leaves in bright gold with deeper green frames and veins. ‘Cathedral Windows’ is an intentional mutation of ‘Stained Glass’ by breeder Hans Hansen. ‘Cathedral Windows’ has bright gold central surfaces with wide green banding.
In addition to lush leaves, hostas bloom in early summer with lavender or white flowers. Tall bloom scapes float above the leafy base and attract hummingbirds. Morning sun benefits bright or variegated varieties to retain color and vibrance. Provide well-draining soils and regular moisture when plants are establishing themselves.
Strobilanthes
Plants grow in the shade but have the best color in the morning sun or dappled light.
Strobilanthes, or Persian shield, is a striking tropical plant with a loose upright habit that provides a focal point in shady areas. The plant has unique, iridescent purple leaves edged in deep green. The long, lance-shaped leaves reach a full color of metallic royal purple and yield a lush look.
Strobilanthes is a fast grower in warm temperatures with regular water and rich, organic soils. It’s a carefree plant and withstands drying out between waterings.
Plants grow in the shade but color best in the morning sun or dappled light. The afternoon sun can scorch leaves or cause them to fade.
Brugmansia ‘Sunset’
It needs rich, moist, well-drained soil to flourish.
Brugmansia’s enormous, pendulous trumpet flowers make it stand out in the garden. Commonly called angel’s trumpet, the highly fragrant flowers draw pollinators from bats to hummingbirds to moths and range in color from creamy white to melon to yellow.
Brugmansia ‘Sunset’ is a showstopper with creamy white splotches along the boundaries of large green leaves. Pale yellow flowers mature to pale peach. Plants reach five feet tall and are well-suited to containers. ‘Snowbank’ is a mutation of ‘Sunset’ with huge, tri-colored leaves in central green, grey-green, and an ivory margin.
B. ‘Peaches and Cream’ holds bundles of trumpet blooms in ivory, warming to yellow peach. Broad, tropical leaves are blue-green lined in white. Plants grow to a towering eight feet.
A tropical shrub, Brugmansia overwinters in the mulched garden bed where it is hardy or indoors in containers. It needs rich, moist, well-drained soil to flourish. Angel’s trumpet is salt tolerant and withstands light frost and drought. Note that this plant is toxic, and it’s best to grow it where curious pets or children can’t reach it.
Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’
Plants are heat-tolerant, waterwise, and easy to care for.
Euphorbia, or spurge, boasts unique foliage and bloom sprays in yellow and chartreuse. ‘Ascot Rainbow’ has showy foliage in pink, red, and lime variegation among sage-green leaves.
Rosy hues intensify in cool conditions. ‘Ascot Rainbow’ flower bracts are bright greenish-yellow and emerge in spring, welcoming pollinators.
Plants are heat-tolerant, waterwise, and easy to care for. Use the colorful spiral foliage in container arrangements as both focal points and filler plants.
Agave ‘Marginata’
This plant relies on warm climates and fast-draining soils to thrive.
Agave has structural leaves that unfurl in blue-green with sharp spines along margins and tips. Variegated varieties have golden ivory stripes, varying shades of green, and bright margins (or a combination of each).
Agave americana var. marginata has long, succulent blades with buttery yellow ribbons running along the margins. The long leaves curl as plants mature. Elegant ‘Marshmellow Cream’ isn’t as soft as it sounds but has a stout habit and wide leaf with off-white borders to gray-green leaves. For eclectic beauty, look for ‘Galactic Traveler.’ Narrow leaves have yellow-green margins and silver centers.
Agave relies on warm climates and fast-draining soils to thrive. It also grows indoors as a houseplant.
Canna
This plant withstands periods of drought, heat, humidity, and excess moisture.
Canna lilies add bold, tropical flare in stature, flower, and foliage. They make stately focal points in beds or containers, and there is no shortage of tonal leaf variations.
‘Bengal Tiger’ is a favorite, with towering stalks of green leaves, yellow striping, and a glowing maroon edge. In the summer, a ruffly orange flower accentuates the display. ‘White Tiger’ is an elegant three-foot-tall selection with dark green and white-striped leaves and clusters of ivory flowers.
For wild color, opt for ‘Tropicanna,’ which shines in shades of purple and green with red and yellow stripes on seven-foot stalks. A dwarf cultivar like ‘Tropicanna’ is a sport of ‘Bengal Tiger.’ ‘B. Marley,’ at four feet tall, encapsulates the highlighting pigments for an all-over glow of red, magenta, yellow, and orange.
Canna withstands periods of drought, heat, humidity, and excess moisture. They may naturalize in optimal growing conditions, particularly in the southeast. Divide or cut rhizomes to control their spread or grow them in pots.
