Variegated Plants in My Garden

This variegated cultivar is a real standout in my garden. It has pleasing green and cream fernlike foliage, which gives it a nice airy tropical look, but don’t be fooled by that as it is a very hardy plant and can withstand the cold and snow of my zone 3a garden. It has many spikes of small, very pretty blue flowers in summer that attract many different kinds of bees and butterflies. It is said to be good as a cut flower.



You can grow Brise d’Anjou as a single accent plant or en masse. It can be grown in full sun or in partial shade where the summers are very hot. In my garden it is planted under a poplar tree. It grows in zones 3 to 9. It is 24 to 28 inches tall, with a spread of about 1 foot. It prefers average to moist soil. Sadly, in my garden it is difficult to keep the soil moist during our hot dry windy summers. Still, this plant holds its own and has been doing so for several years. It can also be grown in a large container. It is a low maintenance plant. Just cut it back after blooming. This will improve its appearance and keep it compact.

Not all variegated plants do well in my garden. Brunnera ‘Variegata’ did well the first year or two, but then solid green leaves started to grow alongside and between the variegated ones. I tried in vain to keep them removed. Unfortunately, after a while I was left with just the solid green leaves. It is still a lovely plant, however, and it continues to bloom each summer with pretty, tiny blue flowers.