Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Pieris japonica ‘Variegata’
Variegated Japanese Pieris
- Family
- Ericaceae
- Height
- 4 to 6 feet
- Width
- 4 feet
- Flower color
- White or creamy
- Foliage color
- Dark green with creamy-white margins
- Bloom time
- Early to mid-spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Maintenance
- Minimal pruning is usually required
- Growing zone
- USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8
- Wildlife
- Flowers may attract pollinators like bees, and the evergreen foliage provides some cover for birds
About this plant
Pieris japonica 'Variegata' produces drooping clusters of small, fragrant white, urn-shaped flowers in spring, attracting bees and other early pollinators. Glossy, leathery leaves are deep green with irregular creamy white margins, while new growth emerges burnished red to reddish pink before gradually developing its mature variegation. The dense evergreen foliage creates a softly luminous effect throughout the year, with colorful young leaves adding another layer of seasonal interest.
Derived from Pieris japonica, a species native to Japan, 'Variegata' is an established selection valued for its colorful foliage and bushy habit. Its year-round variegation makes it particularly useful for brightening woodland gardens and shaded borders, while its refined form also works beautifully in foundation plantings, mixed shrub borders, courtyard gardens, and as a specimen.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Containers · Deer Prone Areas
Companion plants
Yew · Astilbe · Ajuga · Sweet box · Anemone · Oregon grape
Design tip
Creamy-white leaf margins give ‘Variegata’ a light-reflective quality that can bring definition to darker areas of the garden. Its variegation remains effective throughout the year, with creamy spring flowers adding seasonal interest without overwhelming the patterned foliage.
