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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Pieris japonica ‘Variegata’

Variegated Japanese Pieris

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.

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Water

Regular

Bloom time

Early to mid-spring

Find this plant

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)