Variegated Foliage: A Garden Glow-Up

Variegated shrubs bring natural artistry to your landscape. These ornamental plants have beautifully patterned foliage - splashed, edged, or streaked in white, cream, gold, or silver! Each delivers color and contrast long after flowers fade. Variegated foliage shrubs and variegated trees are some of the best landscaping plants for year-round interest, whether you need a hedge, accent tree, or foundation planting!

In spring, new leaves emerge fresh and bright. By summer, their creamy margins or golden streaks provide cool relief in full-sun gardens. In autumn, many variegated trees and shrubs shift tones, layering another season of brilliance. From showy Dogwoods to elegant Euonymus, these plants thrive as focal points, borders, or companions in any style garden!

• What Causes Variegation in Plants?
• Top 10 Variegated Shrubs
• Landscaping With Variegated Foliage
• Care & Maintenance For Variegated Plants
• Designs Only Ma Nature Could Paint!

What Causes Variegation in Plants?

Variegated foliage happens when parts of a leaf have less chlorophyll than others, creating creamy-white, yellow, or silver patterns against the green. Some newer varieties even have pink, red, purple, and varying shades of green, all on the same leaf!

Variegated foliage can appear naturally through genetic variation, or it can be encouraged by plant breeders to enhance ornamental plants with unique patterns. Sometimes, variegation comes from structural changes in the leaf that reflect light and create striking designs, while in other cases it results from stable mutations passed down from one plant generation to the next. These natural and cultivated patterns make variegated shrubs and variegated trees some of the most sought-after choices in garden design!

Because variegated leaves have less chlorophyll, they often grow more slowly than solid-green plants, but their ornamental value is unmatched! That’s why many variegated shrubs and trees become instant focal points in the garden!

Top 10 Variegated Shrubs

1. Ivory Halo Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’)

• Green leaves with creamy-white margins
• Clusters of white spring flowers attract butterflies
• White berries feed birds in late summer
• Stunning red stems in winter for four-season interest
• Zones 3-7

2. My Money Purple Effect® Weigela (Weigela florida 'Verweig8')

• Creamy margins highlight deep green leaves
• Purple funnel-shaped blooms in late spring attract hummingbirds and pollinators
• Occasional repeat flowering through summer
• Adds fragrance and vibrant color
• Zones 4-8

3. Silver King Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus)

• Glossy green leaves edged in silver-white
• Small spring flowers are lightly fragrant
• Evergreen foliage provides year-round brightness
• Ideal hedge or foundation shrub
• Zones 6-9

4. Dappled Willow (Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’)

• New leaves emerge pink, maturing to mottled white and green
• Graceful arching branches give it a soft, airy shape
• Small catkins in spring add subtle seasonal interest
• Can be grown as a shrub or trained into a small tree form
• Zones 4-9

5. Cool Blue™ Variegated California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Cool Blue’)

• Evergreen shrub with blue-green leaves edged in creamy white
• Profuse clusters of fragrant sky-blue flowers in spring attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
• Excellent drought-tolerant plants choice for coastal gardens and water-wise landscapes
• Provides year-round foliage interest plus vibrant seasonal blooms
• Zones 7-10

6. Variegated Boxwood Cone Topiary (Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’)

• Dense evergreen with creamy-white leaf edges
• Inconspicuous spring flowers attract bees
• Year-round greenery for hedges, edging, and topiary
• Low-maintenance and classic, trimmed and trained cone form
• Zones 5-9

7. Olive Martini™ Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Viveleg’)

• Glossy olive-green leaves edged in golden yellow for year-round brightness
• Small, highly fragrant white flowers bloom in fall, drawing bees and pollinators
• Produces small red fruits that attract birds in winter
• Salt-tolerant and hardy, perfect for coastal landscapes or hedging
• Zones 6-9

8. Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’)

• Green leaves with crisp white edges
• Tiny spring flowers are nectar sources for pollinators
• Produces small berries (toxic to humans but relished by birds)
• Evergreen groundcover or climbing shrub with year-round interest
• Zones 5-9

9. Kaleidoscope Abelia Bush (Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’)

• Golden variegated foliage flushed with pink tones
• Long-blooming, fragrant white flowers from summer to fall attract butterflies and bees
• Semi-evergreen in warmer climates
• Compact, colorful, and versatile shrub
• Zones 6-9

10. Honey Maid Holly (Ilex x meserveae 'Honey Maid')

• Glossy, blue-green broadleaf evergreen leaves edged in cream
• Tiny spring flowers support pollinators
• Bright red berries in fall and winter feed birds and add holiday flair
• Classic evergreen shrub with bold presence
• Zones 6-9

Landscaping With Variegated Foliage

Variegated plants are natural scene-stealers, so use them where they shine:

• Focal points: Variegated Dogwoods or Japanese Maples anchor entryways and garden beds
• Shade brighteners: Wintercreeper or Variegated Boxwood sparkle in darker corners
• Companion plants: Pair variegated shrubs with evergreen bushes or bold-flowered perennials like Roses, Hydrangea bushes, and Ornamental Grasses for contrast
• Hedges and borders: Euonymus and Abelia make colorful, neat, tidy shrubs
• Four-season gardens: Dogwoods and Hollies extend interest with winter stems or berries

Care & Maintenance For Variegated Plants

The white and lighter parts of variegated leaves make them more likely to burn in harsh sun environments. Keep variegated shrubs and trees looking fresh with a few simple steps:

• Avoid harsh sun: afternoon sun may scorch leaves, so choose a location with morning sun access and afternoon shade
• Use balanced fertilizer: too much nitrogen reduces variegation, so stick with slow-release fertilizer
• Prune green reversions: cut back solid green shoots to maintain patterns
• Maintain soil moisture: apply arborist mulch to conserve water and protect roots
• Reduce stress: plant in sheltered areas to prevent fading from wind, drought, or extreme heat

Designs Only Ma Nature Could Paint!

Variegated shrubs bring brightness, contrast, and artistry to the garden! Each leaf is a unique brushstroke from Ma Nature, creating gardens that glow through every season.

With a little extra care, these shrubs and trees with variegated leaves will always be your garden’s spotlight stealers!

Happy Planting!