Best Variegated Shrub Plants of 2025

Steven Taylor Avatar
Steven Taylor
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2025

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Variegated shrub plants are a popular choice for gardeners looking to add some color and texture to their landscape. These plants feature leaves with unique patterns of colors, such as green and white, or green and yellow. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from low-growing groundcovers to tall, upright bushes. Variegated shrubs are not only visually appealing, but they also provide important benefits to the ecosystem by attracting pollinators and providing shelter for wildlife. These plants are easy to care for and can be grown in a range of climates, making them a versatile addition to any garden.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Variegated Weigela Plant by DAS Farms Cover #TOP 1
Variegated Weigela Plant by DAS Farms
ftb score rating icon 9.8
American Plant Exchange Variegated Schefflera Arboricola Plant, 10" Pot Cover #TOP 2
American Plant Exchange Variegated Schefflera Arboricola Plant, 10" Pot
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Mojo Pittosporum - Blooming & Beautiful Cover #TOP 3
Mojo Pittosporum - Blooming & Beautiful
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Variegated Shrub Plants

#TOP 1

Variegated Weigela Plant by DAS Farms

Variegated
Variegated Weigela Plant by DAS Farms Cover
Variegated Weigela - Live Plant Shipped 1 to 2 Feet Tall by DAS Farms

The Variegated Weigela by DAS offers a convenient planting experience right out of the box. This plant arrives at a height of 1 to 2 feet, carefully packed in moist sphagnum moss, ensuring it stays fresh during transport. You can easily plant it directly in your garden without the need for an additional container. Following the included planting instructions guarantees a successful transplant for up to 30 days, giving you peace of mind as you nurture your new plant. Remember, these deciduous plants will not have leaves in winter, but they'll thrive and leaf out beautifully come spring!

What We Like
Ready to plant upon arrival
Easy transplanting directly to ground
30-day transplant guarantee
Suitable for various climates
#TOP 2

American Plant Exchange Variegated Schefflera Arboricola Plant, 10" Pot

Scheffelera Arboricola Varigated
Green/Yellow
3 gallon
American Plant Exchange Variegated Schefflera Arboricola Plant, 10" Pot Cover
American Plant Exchange Live Variegated Schefflera Arboricola Plant, Umbrella Plant, Plant Pot for Home and Garden Decor, 10" Pot

American Plant Variegated Schefflera is a stunning 10" potted plant with variegated leaves in dark green and golden yellow streaks. This indoor Umbrella Plant is perfect for adding a tropical touch to your space. It is versatile, serving as an accent, backdrop, or privacy screen. Easy to maintain, it thrives in medium to bright indirect light and temperatures between 65–90°F. Ideal for home and garden decor, this plant grows up to 1-6' tall indoors, making it a wonderful gift option for loved ones.

What We Like
Beautiful variegated leaves
Easy to maintain
Perfect for home decor
#TOP 3

Mojo Pittosporum - Blooming & Beautiful

Blooming & Beautiful
Green
Mojo Pittosporum - Blooming & Beautiful Cover
Blooming & Beautiful - Mojo Pittosporum - Southern Living - Dwarf Evergreen Shrub - Green Variegated Foliage - Spring White Flowers - Zones 7-10 - Pittosporum tobira 'CNI Three' - 3 Gallon Pot

The Mojo Pittosporum by Blooming & Beautiful is a resilient dwarf evergreen shrub that showcases stunning green foliage with golden edges. This plant thrives in zones 7-10 and is perfect for your garden, especially in coastal areas. It blooms fragrant white flowers in spring, reminiscent of orange blossoms, adding delightful scents to your landscape. With its compact size, reaching only 3 feet tall and wide, it fits well in low hedges and foundation plantings, enhancing your outdoor space with year-round visual interest.

What We Like
Dense variegated foliage
Fragrant spring flowers
Cold-hardiness
Compact growth habit
#TOP 4

Olive Martini Elaeagnus - Blooming & Beautiful

Blooming & Beautiful
Olive Martini Elaeagnus - Blooming & Beautiful Cover
Olive Martini Eleagnus - 3 gal - Evergreen Shrub - Variegated Green-Golden Foliage - Spring Summer White Flowers - Vigorous - Zones 6-9 - Elaeagnus x 'Viveleg' PP20177-3 Gallon Pot

The Olive Martini - Blooming & Beautiful is a stunning evergreen shrub that will enhance your garden with its striking green and golden foliage. It blooms small, fragrant white flowers in spring and summer, adding delightful scents to your outdoor space. This fast-growing plant reaches heights of 10-15 feet, making it perfect for creating privacy around your yard. Thriving in zones 6-9, it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, ensuring easy care and maintenance for you.

What We Like
Attractive variegated foliage
Fast-growing privacy shrub
Fragrant spring and summer blooms
Thrives in multiple zones
#TOP 5

Variegated LIRIOPE by PERFECT PLANTS

Variegated
Purple
1 gallon
Variegated LIRIOPE by PERFECT PLANTS Cover
Variegated LIRIOPE - Size: 1 Gallon, Live Plant, Includes Special Blend Fertilizer & Planting Guide

Variegated LIRIOPE by PERFECT PLANTS is a 1-gallon live plant that comes with a special blend fertilizer and planting guide. This plant features variegated foliage, showy flowers, and is known for its groundcover and drought tolerance. The variegated foliage adds a decorative touch to your garden, while the showy flowers enhance its visual appeal. As a groundcover, it helps in suppressing weeds and minimizing soil erosion. Its drought tolerance makes it a low-maintenance option, ideal for busy gardeners.

What We Like
Variegated Foliage
Showy Flowers
Groundcover Benefits
#TOP 6

Goshiki Variegated Tea Olive - New Life Nursery

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Quart Pot
Goshiki Variegated Tea Olive - New Life Nursery Cover
Goshiki Variegated Tea Olive (osmanthus) - Live Plant - Quart Pot

The Goshiki Tea Olive from New Life Nursery is an evergreen shrub that brings a vibrant touch to your garden with its uniquely speckled foliage in shades of cream, pink, orange, yellow, and white. As a compact and slow-growing plant, it thrives best in partial shade, making it perfect for planting near patios or walkways where you can enjoy its delightful fragrance. In late summer, the tiny white flowers bloom, adding even more charm to your outdoor space. With a mature height of 4 to 6 feet, this sturdy shrub is ideal for creating a lush, inviting atmosphere in your yard.

What We Like
Fragrant white flowers
Colorful variegated foliage
Suitable for partial shade
Compact growth size
#TOP 7

Ligustrum Japonicum Howardi - 40 Live Plants

Green,Yellow
40 Plants
Ligustrum Japonicum Howardi - 40 Live Plants Cover
Ligustrum Japonicum Howardi - 40 Live Plants - Privet Howardii - Variegated Evergreen Shrub

Ligustrum Japonicum Howardi is an evergreen shrub grown, packaged, and shipped by Florida Foliage. This plant has very dark, deep, glossy green leaves and bright yellow new growth, making it a great colorful accent plant. It is resistant to high disease and can be pruned to maintain a desired shape. This low-maintenance shrub prefers full sun but can do well in part shade. It is good for mid-size hedges, foundation plantings or landscape beds, and islands. Regular watering is needed until the mature root system is established.

What We Like
High disease resistance
Colorful accent plant
Low maintenance
Can be pruned to maintain desired shape
Good for mid-size hedges, foundation plantings or landscape beds, and islands
#TOP 8

Jack Frost Privet - Florida Foliage

Green,White,Yellow
12 Plants
Jack Frost Privet - Florida Foliage Cover
Ligustrum Japonicum Jack Frost Privet - 12 Live Quart Size Plants - Variegated Evergreen Formal Hedge

The Jack Frost Privet is an eye-catching evergreen shrub that serves beautifully as a hedge or standalone accent in your garden. Its glossy, medium green leaves, adorned with creamy white edges, add a striking contrast to any landscape. In late spring and early summer, you can enjoy clusters of small, white flowers that attract birds and enhance your outdoor space. This hardy plant thrives in various soil types and climates, requiring full sun or partial shade. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape, making it a versatile choice for any gardener looking to enhance their landscape with vibrant color and structure.

What We Like
Striking two-tone foliage
Attracts birds with berries
Versatile for hedges or accents
Disease resistant
Thrives in various soils
#TOP 9

Lady Vansittart Camellia Japonica Starter Plant

Lady Vansittart Camellia Japonica Starter Plant Cover
(1) - Lady Vansittart Variegated Camellia Japonica - Starter Plant (4L) (1 Live Plant)

The Lady Vansittart Camellia is a stunning starter plant that produces beautiful, semi-double flowers with unique white stripes and rose pink spots. These flowers bloom from February to April, adding vibrant color to your garden. The shrub features glossy, oval leaves and grows into a dense bush, which you can shape by pruning after the flowers have faded. It thrives in shade to partial sun, making it ideal for various garden settings. Additionally, the plant is hardy in zones 7 to 10, ensuring it can withstand different climates while offering you an eye-catching addition to your landscape.

What We Like
Beautiful striped flowers
Dense, attractive foliage
Prunable for desired shape
Hardy in various climates
#TOP 10

Variegated Pittosporum | Florida Foliage

Gray,Green,White
3 Plants
Variegated Pittosporum | Florida Foliage Cover
Variegated Pittosporum | 3 Live Plants | Pittosporum Tobria Variegatum | Evergreen Border Accent Hedge Shrub

The Variegated Pittosporum from Florida Foliage is an attractive evergreen shrub that enhances your garden with its unique light variegated leaves. This versatile plant not only adds visual interest to dull landscapes but also serves as a stunning backdrop for darker plants. It thrives in well-drained soils and, once established, requires less frequent watering, making it a low-maintenance choice. Regular pruning helps maintain its natural shape and keeps it looking tidy, while its fragrant white flowers add an extra touch of beauty to your outdoor space.

What We Like
Attractive evergreen foliage
Drought resistant
Low maintenance
Fragrant flowers
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the examples of variegated plants?

This type of leaves, containing partly white color and partly green color, are called variegated leaves. Examples of plants having variegated leaves are coleus and croton. Variegated types of leaves can be often found in parks and gardens. Another example is Euonymus microphylla.

2. What plants are naturally variegated?

Some popular indoor plants and cultivars with natural variegation include the Magenta Triostar, Silver Evergreen, Snake Plant, and Pink Rubber Tree. Chimeral variegation - This type of variegation is caused by genetic mutation where some tissue of the plant is able to produce chlorophyll and other tissue is not.

3. Do variegated plants need more light?

Foliage plants with variegated leaves require brighter light, because their two-toned leaves have less chlorophyll, which is needed for growth. If the plant is not getting enough light, it will respond by making all-green leaves so it can make more chlorophyll.

Editor's Notes

During our variegated shrub plant research, we found 24 variegated shrub plant products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 2,930 customer reviews through our big data system to write the variegated shrub plants list. We found that most customers choose variegated shrub plants with an average price of $29.16.

The variegated shrub plants are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of variegated shrub plants, including DAS Farms, American Plant Exchange, Blooming & Beautiful, PERFECT PLANTS, New Life Nursery & Garden. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 140 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Steven Taylor Avatar

Steven Taylor grew up in a small town called Beaufort in South Carolina and his passion for building and woodworking has led him to master the latest garden gadgets. He always holds every chance to patch up or sand down his beloved garden. There are various novel technologies in his articles.