Perk up winter garden with variegated plants

Q: Would you suggest plants to enliven my garden over winter?

A: Variegated plants, those with more than one color in their leaves, will light up your garden during our short, gray winter days.

Not everyone likes variegated plants; some think they look unhealthy. I am crazy about them. They add sparkle to the garden. While it is painful to contemplate an entire garden of multicolored foliage plants, sprinkling a few about a garden brings in a fresh element, one more item in your planting design tool kit.

Variegated Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovarigata') has oval green leaves edged in white on a clean-looking shrub. It looks stunning against the taupe shingles on the wall of my house. Reaching 6 to 8 feet, it is a clean-looking trouble-free shrub.

Golden Mexican orange (Choisya ternata 'Sundance') does not have variegated foliage, but the entire shrub takes on a two-toned look as the new leaves emerge golden and stand out against the older leaves that have faded to green. This year, my plant put out a flush of new leaves in September and still looked gold-tipped in November. I am not sure whether this happens every year. I will keep an eye on it next fall. My plant grew to 5 feet in as many years and ultimately will reach 6 to 8 feet. It thrives in partial shade.

A large-leafed version of the familiar dwarf periwinkle, (Vinca major 'Variegata', has a deep green leaf edged in white. A cheerful groundcover, the long runners make it a quick spreader. The evergreen leaves make it a good plant for draping over the edge of containers to add winter interest.

New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) has spiky leaves that add a bold pattern and drama to a composition. Combine this with the color range of the hybrids and cultivars, and this plant ranks high on the must-have list. Imagine in your garden 'Apricot Queen,' 'Maori Sunrise' or 'Pink Stripe,' and you have an idea of the possibilities. Some of these can reach 6 feet high and wide, so allow them elbow room.

Conifers can provide a world of variegation. The golden form of our native Western red cedar (Thuja plicata 'Zebrina') always stops me in my tracks at nurseries with its happy yellow-splashed branches. I have not planted it in my garden because I am wary of its ultimate 60-foot height.

For a smaller-scale conifer, consider the golden form of Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria japonica 'Sekkan-Sugi'). The softly draping new foliage is borne on a tree that will reach 10 to 15 feet.

Silverberry (Eleagnus pungens) has no less than three variegated forms. I grow yellow-edge eleagnus ('Variegata') where it snakes through adjacent shrubs, poking out its sunny-bordered leaves. 'Maculata' shows the reverse look, having green leaves bearing a central gold spot, and 'Marginata' has a cream-colored border on its green foliage.

Another shrub with a choice of variegations is Japanese aucuba (Aucuba japonica). Gold dust plant is the common name for the most widely grown cultivar, 'Variegata.' Its dark green leaves are spotted with gold. Other cultivars have larger patches of gold on green leaves. These plants are tough performers and will take partial to deep shade.

Echo tones of golden foliage with yellow-twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'). After dropping its leaves, the branches gleam. Cut the stems down in late winter to control growth and produce young branches that have the best winter color. Left unpruned, it can grow to 9 feet.

A favorite variegated shrub in my garden is Pittosporum eugenoides 'Variegata.' Books list it as being tender, a zone 9 plant, but so far it has survived three winters in the open. The oval leaves have cream-colored borders, and the entire plant has a neat habit that I find appealing.

Spangle your garden for the holidays with the glow of multitinted plants.

Phil Wood has a degree in landscape architecture and designs and builds gardens. Call 206-464-8533 or e-mail thegardendesigner@seattletimes.com with your questions. Sorry, no personal replies.