Unique Foliage Shrubs
Shrubs with unique foliage bring texture and visual interest to the garden, offering leaves in a range of colors, shapes, and patterns that stand out across the seasons. From deep greens and silvery tones to variegated blends and rich burgundy hues, their foliage often provides lasting impact beyond the flowering period. These shrubs add structure to borders while creating a space that feels layered and distinctive.
Planted with intention, they provide consistent interest even when not in bloom, helping anchor the overall design. Different varieties contribute contrasting forms and tones, adding depth and variation to plantings. Over time, you may come to appreciate the subtle shifts in color and texture as they catch the light and change with the seasons.
Yellow Variegated Shrubs
Yellow variegated shrubs bring energy to the garden with green foliage marked by golden edges and irregular yellow patterning, creating bold splashes of color that stand out against evergreens and provide welcome brightness and winter interest throughout the seasons.
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Fatsia japonica 'Murakumo Nishiki'
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3 to 6 ft tall
3 to 5 ft wide
Part to full shade
Evergreen
Flowers (white, in fall)
Uses: shade borders, containers & tropical-style plantings -
Cistus x hybridus 'Mickie'
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2 to 3 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (white with yellow centers)
Uses: low hedges, borders & dry gardens -
Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice'
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3 to 4 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full to part sun
Semi-evergreen
Flowers (white, fragrant)
Uses: borders, pathways & containers -
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge'
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6 to 8 ft tall
6 to 8 ft wide
Full to part sun
Evergreen
Flowers (inconspicuous, fragrant)
Uses: hedges, screening & coastal plantings
Burgundy-Leaved Shrubs
Burgundy-leaved shrubs introduce rich, deep tones with foliage ranging from wine-red to near purple, creating bold contrast against greens and silvers while adding depth, structure, and lasting color from spring through fall and often into winter.
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Weigela florida 'Alexandra'
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4 to 6 ft tall
4 to 6 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (deep pink to red)
Uses: hedges, borders & seasonal color -
Hebe x hybrid 'Pretty 'n Pink'
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2 to 3 ft tall
2 to 3 ft wide
Full sun to partial shade
Evergreen
Flowers (soft pink spikes)
Uses: borders, containers & low hedges -
Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Burgundy'
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6 to 10 ft tall
6 to 10 ft wide
Full to part sun
Evergreen
Flowers (pink, early spring)
Uses: hedges, specimens & foundations -
Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
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10 to 15 ft tall
10 to 15 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (airy pink plumes)
Uses: specimen, borders & focal points
White Variegated Shrubs
White variegated shrubs feature green leaves edged or patterned with creamy white, creating a luminous, textured effect that brightens shaded areas, defines planting beds, and adds contrast against darker foliage throughout the seasons.
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Rhododendron 'Unique'Variegated'
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3 to 5 ft tall
3 to 5 ft wide
Full to part sun
Evergreen
Flowers (pink buds opening to white)
Uses: specimen, borders & foundation plantings -
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Mojo'
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2 to 3 ft tall
2 to 3 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (inconspicuous)
Uses: low hedges, borders & containers -
Weigela florida 'Kolsunn'
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4 to 5 ft tall
4 to 5 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Uses: hedges, borders & seasonal color -
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'
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3 to 5 ft tall
3 to 6 ft wide
Full sun to partial shade
Evergreen
Flowers (inconspicuous)
Uses: low hedges, borders, groundcover & containers
Chartreuse-Leaved Shrubs
Chartreuse-leaved shrubs light up the garden with vivid yellow-green foliage that reads almost luminous in sun or shade, drawing the eye, sharpening contrasts, and carrying a fresh, bright presence from early growth through the later seasons.
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Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold'
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2 to 3 ft tall
2 to 3 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (white clusters)
Uses: low hedges, borders & mass plantings -
Pinus mugo 'Carstens'
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4 to 5 ft tall
4 to 5 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (inconspicuous)
Uses: rock gardens, borders & foundation plantings -
Weigela 'Looymansii Aurea'
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3 to 5 ft tall
3 to 5 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (soft pink)
Uses: hedges, borders & color contrast -
Berberis thunbergii ‘Maria’
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4 to 5 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (small, yellow)
Uses: hedges, borders & color contrast
Gray-Leaved Shrubs
Gray-leaved shrubs offer a refined, silvery palette with foliage ranging from soft dove gray to steely tones, lending a muted, calming presence that pairs easily with brighter colors while maintaining visual interest throughout the year.
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Brachyglottis greyi
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3 to 4 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (bright yellow daisy-like)
Uses: coastal plantings, borders & contrast foliage -
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
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2 to 3 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (inconspicuous)
Uses: rock gardens, borders & groundcover -
Veronica pinguifolia
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1 to 2 ft tall
2 to 3 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (white to pale lavender)
Uses: borders, rock gardens & low hedges -
Salix purpurea ‘Nana’
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3 to 5 ft tall
4 to 6 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (catkins, early spring)
Uses: hedges, screening & naturalistic plantings
Multi-Colored-Leaved Shrubs
Multi-colored-leaved shrubs combine two or more hues within each leaf—such as green, cream, pink, or gold—creating a layered, painterly effect that draws attention, adds complexity to plantings, and provides shifting color interest from new growth through the colder months.
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Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Rainbow'
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3 to 5 ft tall
3 to 5 ft wide
Part to full shade
Evergreen
Flowers (small, white)
Uses: shade borders, woodland & foundation plantings -
Veronica 'Silver Dollar'
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1 to 2 ft tall
2 to 3 ft wide
Full sun
Evergreen
Flowers (white spikes)
Uses: borders, rock gardens & low hedges -
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’
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6 to 10 ft tall
4 to 6 ft wide
Full to part sun
Evergreen
Flowers (small, white, fragrant)
Uses: hedges, screening & specimen plantings -
Weigela florida 'Verweig'
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2 to 3 ft tall
3 to 4 ft wide
Full sun
Deciduous
Flowers (rose-pink)
Uses: low hedges, borders & mass plantings