Mine is not variegated, though it will throw seedlings that are. Sorry to have to show photo with dead tree, but wanted you to see the beautiful red stem and bead-like pods that become the flower and seed. Forgot to cut these off one year before seed set. In this spot the following spring I got to pull up hundreds of seedlings. I grow this mainly for the spectacular fall show.
PattyW5, the gardener who passed me my persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette' warned me that is can self sow by the hundreds. I keep an eye & try to cut off the 'flowers'.