And here they are, 20 evergreen and deciduous shrubs with the most amazing variegation you can ever include in your landscaping!
Remember that most of these variegated shrubs also have amazing blooms, as the first on our list will demonstrate…
1: ‘Variegatum’ Trailing Abutilon (Abutilon megapotanicum ‘Variegatum’)
The ‘Variegatum’ variety of trailing abutilon is a real wonder of Nature! Its dense and lush foliage is a tapestry of elongated heart shaped leaves with gently serrated edges, where you can see a striking contrast between the dark and deep forest green they display and mustard to golden yellow spots scattered on them.
2: Variegated European Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Variagata’)
From an unusual shrub to a classic of gardening history: evergreen box is a staple in many gardens, especially Italian and formal ones, and the ‘Variegata’ variety has the extra factor!
3: ‘Plantation Pink Variegated’ Camellia (Camellia sasanqua ‘Plantation Variegated Pink’)
From a tough and easy to grow, well known shrub, to a rare collector’s item: ‘Plantation Pink Variegated’ camellia. If you love camellias, and you want a variegated cultivar, there is actually one for you!
4: ‘Kaleidoscope’ Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’)
‘Kaleidoscope’ glossy abelia is really true to its name! In fact, this small semi evergreen shrub makes up for its size in personality and palette…
The fact is also that it keeps changing all through the year, offering you and your garden new surprises as time goes on… In fact, the pointed and – of course – shiny leaves emerge as yellow to lime green at first.
5: ‘Light-O-Day’ Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Light-O-Day’)
You may be surprised to know that there are even some variegated hydrangea varieties, and ‘Light-O-Day’ bigleaf hydrangea is one of them!
6: Variegated Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’)
How many dimensions can you add to your landscaping with variegated star jasmine?
7: Variegated Song of India (Dracaena reflexa ‘Song of India’)
For a hot and exotic looking garden, variegated song of India is just perfect! This is a Dracaena variety from Madagascar, the Mauritius and other islands in the Indian Ocean, hence the name.
8: Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica)
Spotted laurel is a decorative variegated shrub that will give your garden colors and interest all year round! Its evergreen, dense and glossy foliage will shine with its brilliant green shades and – as the name suggests – lots of champagne to sunflower yellow dots scattered all over them!
9: ‘El Dorado’ California Lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘El Dorado’)
An extremely bright and luminous shrub you can use to give your garden a sparkling look all year round is ‘El Dorado’ California lilac.
10: Variegated Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis)
We need to add yet another sensory dimension to your colorful landscaped garden: taste! Yes, because garden (or kitchen) sage has a few variegated varieties as well! And we could not pick one, so we are showing you three…
11: Variegated Azalea (Rhododendron japonica ‘Variegata’)
Azalea, or rhododendron, is one of the most exquisite flowering shrubs ever, and there is also a variegated cultivar, known as ‘Variegata’.
12: ‘Massangeana’ Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’)
Imagine walking through a tropical forest… That’s the effect you can get if you integrate ‘Massangeana’ corn plant into your landscape, but with an added bonus: of course, it is a variegated shrub!
13: ‘Argenteo-Marginata’ Tatarian Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Argenteo-Marginata’)
‘Argenteo-Marginata’ Tatarian dogwood is a deciduous shrub, but this is actually a godsend to landscape your garden!
14: ‘Frozen Flame’ Hebe (Hebe speciosa ‘Frozen Flame’)
There are a few varieties of Hebe with variegated foliage, but maybe one of the most striking is the suggestively named ‘Frozen Flame’.
15: Variegated Mint Bush (Prostanthera ovalifolia ‘Variegata’)
Looking at variegated mint bush you would never guess that it comes from Australia, but it does! A tangle of thin and long, arching branches bears roughly oval leaves, with a grayish sage green center and cream splashes around the margins, making it look quite temperate in personality.
16: ‘Florida Variegata’ Weigela (Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’)
The dense variegated leafy bush that your landscape will gain with ‘Florida Variegata’ weigela is hard to underestimate.
17: ‘Admiration’ Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea ‘Admiration’)
Japanese berberry is a small and compact shrub famous for its brightly colored foliage! So, you can grow the luminous chartreuse ‘Golden Rocket’ the burgundy ‘Crimson Pygmy’ or the ruby ‘Fireball’.
18: ‘Sugar Tip’ Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus ‘Sugar Tip’)
Why not grow a cold hardy hibiscus variety with variegated leaves?
19: Variegated Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Here is another small and compact shrub that offers you many varieties with colorful variegation; and it’s impossible to pick just one… So, we will offer you a little catwalk! First on show is the vibrant ‘Emerald and Gold’… You will have guessed the shades it offers from its name, but let me tell you that the green part will be in the center of the many small and ovate glossy leaves, while the margins will have an intense and large areas in the yellow range.
20: ‘Twist of Pink’ Oleander (Nerium oleander ‘Twist of Pink’)
And we come to the final protagonist of this article, chosen from the many oleander varieties that grace this planet! ‘Twist Pink’ is a bit special, because while all the other members of this genus have foliage that ranges from bright to olive green, of course, our pick is variegated