Variegated-Foliage Perennials & Their Companions

GARDENS BY THE BAY

VARIEGATED-FOLIAGE PERENNIALS & THEIR COMPANIONS - 2

The gardening world seems to have gone mad for variegation. You have only to read your favourite gardening books and magazines to fully appreciate the enormous number of choices available today.

To utilize the space we have left on our site, some of these many variegated plants will simply be listed by name, with a brief description, leaving you free to do your own research for suitable companions using Google and Google Images or your own favourite search engine. Be sure to bookmark this page before leaving our site so you can find your way back to us again.

* Watch for the animated hummingbird and butterfly with the plants that attract them. *
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The best time and method to propagate plants can be found on our image-intensive PROPAGATION page.

To help your plants grow their best, check out our FERTILIZATION page.

To create your own plant partnerships based on tried and true color theory, check out our GARDEN COLOR page.

To see if a particular plant is on this page press Ctrl+F, type in the name, then click the Find button.

HAKONECHLOA

If you have any shade at all in your gardens, consider Hakone Grass an essential addition to such a site. The only drawback with this short-statured warm-season grass is the slow nature of its spread. There can never be enough of this beauty in any garden setting.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola': Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass, 16"x18-24", green-striped yellow leaves

Hakonechloa macra

Ornamental Grasses & Their Companions - 1

For more variegated Hakone Grass try the following:

Hakonechloa macra 'Albostriata': white-striped foliage
Hakonechloa macra 'Albovariegata': synonym H. m. 'Albostriata', white longitudinal stripes on rich green foliage

Find companions for Hakone Grass with solid green leaves at the link below.

non-variegated Hakone Grass

HEDERA

In the Ivy family, there are several variegated forms. While green-leaved ivies are very shade tolerant, variegated or yellow-leaved forms prefer more light and are generally less hardy.

Research any of the forms below to determine whether they would make suitable additions to your gardens.

Hedera 'Gloire de Marengo': silver variegated leaves
Hedera 'Dentata Variegata': cream-yellow variegated leaves
Hedera 'Sulphur Heart': yellow and light green variegation
Hedera helix 'Angularis Aurea': bright yellow variegation on light green leaves
Hedera helix 'Goldheart': Zone 8, sometimes sold as perennial even in Zone 5 - don't buy it, it won't survive

If you still prefer your Ivy foliage in a solid colour, check out information at the link below.

Hedera for shade

HELIOPSIS

Most Heliopsis forms have rather coarse, plain green foliage. Not so the cultivar below. From the day I first saw a picture of it, I knew I had to have this beauty. I have since found that it self-seeds true to the original, so I can plant even more of this wonderful short-statured form for much greater impact.

Heliopsis 'Lorraine Sunshine': golden-yellow, 2-3' tall

Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 1

More information about the genus Heliopsis is available at the link below.

Heliopsis in general

HEUCHERA

If there is any genus of plants you need to check periodically on plant tables at garden centres, it is Coral Bells. The name refers to the flower, but it is nearly always the foliage - its textures, colours and variegations - that attracts the most attention. And new forms are appearing all the time. Leaf variegation can be subtle or bold or every stage in between. Plant them in spring if possible and dead-head regularly for best performance. The latter seems to encourage new stems to appear for continued bloom over a longer period.

Heuchera 'Amber Waves': 12"x15-18", amber-gold foliage ages burnt orange, ruffled edges, flowers light rose

Coreopsis

Achillea

Heuchera americana 'Eco-Magnififolia': silvery leaves with contrasting green veins

Edgers & Their Companions - 1

Heuchera sanguinea 'Irish Mist': red variegated form

Red Perennials & Their Companions

Heuchera x 'Plum Pudding': 12-30"x6-20", glossy, silvery-purple foliage, red and white flowers

Heucherella

Heuchera sanguinea 'Snow Storm': near white foliage edged in green

Red Perennials & Their Companions

Wow! Some of the variegations below will knock your socks off, while others will add a more subtle effect to your gardens. Have fun researching which ones to add to your Must-Have list. And this is an abbreviated list of all the variegated forms that are available.

Heuchera 'Amethyst Mist'
Heuchera 'Cascade Dawn'
Heuchera 'Cathedral Windows'
Heuchera 'Cinnabar Silver'
Heuchera 'Fandango'
Heuchera 'Fantasia'
Heuchera 'Geisha's Fan'
Heuchera 'Hearts on Fire'
Heuchera 'Hercules'
Heuchera 'Hollywood'
Heuchera 'Jade Gloss'
Heuchera 'Magic Color'
Heuchera 'Marmalade'
Heuchera 'Midnight Burgundy'
Heuchera 'Midnight Rose'
Heuchera 'Peach Flambe'
Heuchera 'Pearl Pendants'
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Heuchera 'Petite Marbled Burgundy': 6-8"x12-15", 14" with light pink flowers, bronze foliage, distinct silver markings
Heuchera 'Pink Marble'
Heuchera 'Prince of Silver'
Heuchera 'Quilter's Joy'
Heuchera 'Rose Mirrors'
Heuchera 'Saturn'
Heuchera 'Snow Angel': highly variegated, white blooms
Heuchera 'Swirling Fantasy'
Heuchera 'Velvet Night'
Heuchera x 'Mint Frost': 5-7"x6-16", silver foliage overlaid on a mini-green background, flowers chartreuse with white
Heuchera x 'Regina': 24-36"x6-12", silver-burgundy-bronze foliage, light pink blooms
Heuchera x 'Silver Scrolls': 18-24"x6-12", metallic silver overlay with dark bronze veins, white blooms on 24" stems
Heuchera x 'Strawberry Swirl': 6-9"x6-18", coral-pink blooms on 30" stalks, ruffled green foliage marked with silver
Heuchera americana 'Green Spice': 28"x12", silver foliage with dark grey edges and purple veining, creamy flowers
Heuchera americana 'Pewter Veil': silvery-pewter with darker veins
Heuchera americana 'Ruby Veil': 6-10"x10-18", ruby-violet with silver-grey veins, green and red blooms, sun-tolerant
Heuchera micrantha 'Pewter Moon': 10-12"x6-12", silvery-green with purple undersides, pink flowers on maroon stems
Heuchera sanguinea 'Chatterbox': 12-20"x6-12" rose-pink flowers, blooms June-August, long-blooming
Heuchera sanguinea 'Monet': 6-8"x10-14", to 20" with its rosy-red flowers, variegated creamy-green foliage
Heuchera sanguinea 'Splish Splash': deep green foliage heavily mottled with white, veins turn raspberry-red in fall

The genus Heuchera has an incredible number of forms. For more information, pictures and choices follow the links below.

Heuchera as edgers

red Heuchera forms - flowers and/or foliage

Heuchera with silver foliage

x HEUCHERELLA

Perfect for late spring and summer, the genus Foamy Bells is a cross between two genera - Heuchera and Tiarella. Plant in semi-shade with fertile, well-drained soil and enjoy.

x Heucherella 'Heart of Darkness': 10"x12", mint green etched metallic silver-gray, burgundy blood-red center, white flowers

Hakonechloa macra

Athyrium niponicum

Carex morrowii

Heuchera

Geranium

Armeria maritima

x Heucherella 'Quicksilver': to 12"x15", metallic silver leaves, bronze-maroon veins, becoming dark red, blooms mid-spring

Athyrium niponicum

Carex nigra

Hosta

Epimedium pubigerum

Do some research into more of the available variegated forms of this plant below.

x Heucherella 'Komono': silver, purple and green foliage
x Heucherella 'Party Time': palmate leaves, green and bronze, washed in silver
x Heucherella 'Silver Streak': palmate leaves, ovelined with silver and purple
x Heucherella 'Stoplight':
x Heucherella 'Sunspot': 9"x14", yellow with a striking red blotch

Find more forms of this wonderful perennial at the links below.

HOSTA

Hostas are rarely, if ever, about the flowers. The foliage is the thing. Although there is a seemingly unlimited number of variegated forms, remember to interplant them with other Hosta forms or perennials having solid-coloured leaves for best effect.

Rather than list all the variegated forms we have found companions for, we provide below a link to two of our pages with information and pictures about this genus.

There are other sites from which you can obtain valuable information about the genus Hosta. Both site links below will take you away from our own pages, so be sure to bookmark us if you want to find your way back here.

HOUTTUYNIA

Houttuynia is a genus of only one species of deciduous, marginal, aquatic plant. Otherwise known as Chameleon Plant, it will also do well in moist shade. Mine even spreads into the sunnier, drier areas of my garden. Hopefully there it will not be as invasive as it tends to be in wetter areas.

Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon': 4" x indefinite, leaves splashed with yellow and red, some sun enhances variegation

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Iris pseudacorus

Hosta

Carex

IRIS

I am personally not entranced with Irises having variegated foliage, but realize I am probably in the minority in that regard. The flowers are so wonderful in themselves, in their myriad colours, that "busy" foliage variegation, for me, detracts from the show. But if it is variegation you want, you can surely find what you're looking for below.

Iris pallida pallida:

Iris pallida dalmatica

Hosta plantaginea

Viola

Hibiscus syriacus

Chionodoxa luciliae

Linum perenne

Iris pallida 'Aureo-variegata': 3', lemon-yellow striped foliage, fading to white

Artemisia

Coreopsis verticillata

Iris pallida 'Variegata': striped lengthwise with cream and grey-green

Sedum

If, like me, you prefer your Iris foliage to be solid-coloured, you will find a wealth of forms and their companions at the links below.

KALIMERIS

I'd never heard of this perennial when I bought mine a couple of years ago. Feedback from any readers of this page who grow it and can provide more information would be appreciated.

Kalimeris incisa 'Variegata': 30" tall, pale mauve aster-type flowers, foliage edged in cream, May-September

Kalimeris yomena

Kalimeris yomena 'Aurea': Variegated Aster, 36"x36", light lavender aster-like flowers, creamy-gold-edged foliage

Kalimeris incisa

KERRIA

I don't know why more people don't grow this shrub with lovely yellow flowers for spring interest and pistachio-green stems providing year-round appeal. Perhaps they've tried the truly ugly double-flowered forms. Perhaps they don't know this is the perfect shrub for shady conditions, including deepest shade. The solid green form is as lovely as the one with variegated foliage. Try them both and you'll see what I mean.

Kerria japonica 'Variegata': Japanese Kerria shrub, 5-8'x6-9'

Japanese Kerria shrub

Shade Perennials & Their Companions - 2

LAMIASTRUM

Archangel or Yellow Archangel is perfect as a groundcover planting for partial to full shade. And the variegated foliage looks wonderful with the hooded yellow flowers it bears for a short time in spring. For the rest of the gardening season the colourful foliage by itself can bring interest to a shady corner in the garden. Or drape it over the edge of a pot with other plants to put to use all the extra rooted pieces of this fast-spreading perennial that you'll surely have.

Lamiastrum galeobdolon

Galeobdolon luteum

Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Variegatum':

Lamiastrum galeobdolon

Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride':

Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

LAMIUM

Spotted Lamium, with its silver-touched leaves and pink, mauve or sometimes white flowers, is also a lovely perennial for shady spots. Some forms have more subtle variegation in the foliage than others but all are most attractive.

Lamium maculatum:

Shade Perennials & Their Companions - 2

Lamium maculatum 'Golden Anniversary': 8"x1-2', foliage is green, gold and silver, mauve-pink flowers

Research the forms of Lamium below to find variegations that will make suitable companions for other plants in your gardens already.

Lamium maculatum 'Aureum': 4-6"x18-36", golden yellow-green leaves with a silvery white center, pink flowers

If you want more of this shade-loving plant to brighten up shady corners of your garden you will find additional forms and their companions at the links that follow.

pink Lamium

white Lamium

silver foliage Lamium

LIRIOPE

Whether the flower colour is white or a shade of purple, the Lilyturf is a great addition to partially or fully shaded areas in the garden for late-season bloom. Some forms have solid green leaves, others are variegated.

Liriope muscari 'Variegata': green and cream-striped leaves

Shade Perennials & Their Companions - 2

More Liriope forms and information can be found at the links below.

LYSIMACHIA

Loosestrife is available in many forms and blooms in more than one colour. There is even one yellow cultivar that has variegated foliage. These plants prefer moist sites which might explain why mine are doing so poorly in my sunny, sandy gardens.

Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander': 16-20" tall, yellow flowers, foliage green with cream edges