Shrubs with Variegated foliage
Variegated shrubs help add colour, brightness and variation to shrubberies, mixed borders and containers. Variegation refers to plants with multi-coloured leaves, generally with blotches and streaks of a contrasting colour across the leaf, sometimes edged with a different colour. Variegation is normally a mix of two colours, for example green and gold or green and white. The pattern may be uniform, with all leaves the same, or random and differing from one leaf to the next. Variegated shrubs are perfect for breaking up an otherwise monotone green border or just generally adding colour and interest other than flowers, berries and fruits. Many variegated plants require full sun or dappled shade to keep their best leaf colour and vigour – check the “Position” section of individual plant pages for details. Sometimes variegated plants will revert back to their original plain green colour. If this happens, prune out the reverted branch before it takes over. Reversion can by a sign the plant needs more sunlight.