23 of the Best Variegated Shrubs for Your Landscape

26.06.2023 - 02:49 / gardenerspath.com / Nan Schiller

Shrubs add structure and depth to the landscape as substantial mid-story forms that function as specimen plantings, backdrops to lower profile plants, and transitional armature between ground and canopy layers.

There are also compact varieties suitable for small spaces and container growing.

It’s easy to overlook the bushes in our yards as nondescript blobs that we garden around.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

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.

With so many to choose from, I know you’re eager to get started, so here we go!

Abelia 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