Variegated Plants for Central Texas

A variegated plant is any plant that displays two or more distinctively different foliage colors which are variant from a parent plant source.

Variegations are derived from sports or mutations that naturally occur, random seedlings with generic variations, or a harmless virus which causes variation.

Variegated forms can be marginal, centered, striated, blotched, speckled, veined, patterned, or randomly variable.

Recommended Variegated Plants to try in Austin Gardens:


Agaves and Yuccas (Hardy)
Agave americana ‘albo medio-picta, ‘aureo striata’ & ‘aureo marginata’
Agave sisalana ‘medio-picta’
Agave x ‘Cornelius’
Agave meridensis ‘Joe Hoak’ & ‘ aureo marginata’
Agave lopantha ‘variegata’ syn. A. univittata variegata
Yucca rotundifolia ‘margaritaville’
Yucca filamentosa ‘color guard’, ‘bright edge’, ‘golden sword’ & ‘old gold’
Yucca elephantipes ‘silver star’
Yucca gloriosa ‘variegata’
Yucca aloifolia ‘variegata’

Hardy Shrubs – Evergreen
Viburnum tinus ‘Bewley’s variegated’
Abelia grandiflora ‘white marvel’ (other variegated varieties also available)
Eleagnus pungens cvs. Hosoba fukurin, gilt edge, and maculata
Citrofortunella mitis ‘variegata’
Buxus sempervirens arborescens variegata, aka American Boxwood
Myrtus communis variegata
Ilex cornuta ‘O. Spring’ (may need to mail order - difficult to find)

Nerium oleander ‘Mrs. Runge”

Hardy Shrubs – Deciduous
Hibiscus syriacus “variegata’, aka Rose of Sharon
Malvaviscus penduliflora ‘variegata’& M. aboreum ‘variegata’, aka Turks Cap
Buddleja davidii ‘harlequin’ or ‘strawberry lemonade’ aka Butterfly Bush
Weigela florida ‘variegata’
Duranta spp. – three variegated varieties

Hardy Ornamental Grasses and Related Plants
Miscanthus sinensis ‘cabaret’ 'gold bar' & ‘variegata’
Tulbaghia violaceae ‘variegata’, aka Society Garlic
Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima’ + other variegated bamboo
Ophiopogon japonicus nana variegata,
Phalaris arundinancea ‘variegata’
Loriope muscari ‘aztec’

Vines, Ferns, and Roses
Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘variegata’, aka Confederate Jasmine
Lonicera japonica ‘aureo reticulata’, aka Japanese Honeysuckle
Athyrium niponicum 'pictum' , aka Japanese Painted Fern (shade only)
Rosa verschuren - a naturally variegated rose

Hardy Perennials
Barleria cristata, aureo and albo variegata – aka Philippine Violet
Dianella tasmanica variegata
Thryctis, cvs ‘lightning strike’ & ‘gilt edge' and other variegated cvs’ – aka Toad Lily (shade)
Pentas lanceolata ‘variegata’
Crinum asiaticum ‘variegata’
Canna cvs ‘nirvana’ & ‘tropicanna’
Aspidistra eliator ‘variegata’ – aka Cast Iron Plant (shade only)
Farfugium japonicum 'argentea‘ & ‘aureo maculata’ (shade only)
Hedychium x ‘Dr. Moy’ gingers (afternoon shade)
Alpinia zerumbet ‘variegata’ (afternoon shade)

Tropical Plants for Seasonal Color (non-hardy)
Monstera deliciosa cvs ‘alba, aureo, & maculata’ (shade only)
Acalypha wilksiana – aka Copper Leaf Plant
Codaeium variegatum cvs. - aka Crotons
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cvs. ‘Gen. Corteges’, ‘variegata’, & ‘Heat Wave’
Fucrea gigentea ‘variegata
Pereskia aculeata ‘godseffiana variegata’
Carissa macrophylla ‘variegata’
Bromeliads, esp. variegated cvs of Neoregelias
Bougainvillea, cvs Raspberry Ice, Mardi Gras, Vickie, & White Stripe

Other Variegated Succulents to Consider (hardy and non-hardy)
Sedum erythrostictum ‘mediovariegata’ and ‘frosty morn’
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'marginata'
Opuntia vulgaris ‘variegata’

A variegated plant to avoid: Artemesia vulgaris ‘oriental limelight’

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS………….

NOW YOU ARE NO LONGER DEPENDENT ON FLOWERS ALONE FOR YEAR ROUND SEASONAL COLOR IN YOUR GARDEN.

BLEND VARIEGATED PLANTS WITH OTHER PLANTS TO CREATE A PLEASANT PALETTE AND VARIATION OF COLOR AND TEXTURES.

TOO MANY VARIEGATED PLANTS CAN BE AS BORING AS SOLID GREEN FOLIAGE ALONE.

ALWAYS CONSIDER MICRO-ENVIRONMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PLANTS.

FOR MORE GARDENING INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE
“CENTRAL T TEXAS GARDENING” at http://www.centraltexasgardening.info/