Variegated jasmine foliage brings color

Few plants can brighten a container quite like variegated jasmines. These plants prove that in a Southern garden, foliage can be every bit as beautiful and showy as flowers.

The foliage of variegated jasmine shifts through fiery shades, soft pinks and elegant cream-and-green patterns. Their leaves alone can steal the spotlight.

I recently stopped by the garden of Denise Temple in Meridian and saw her garden containers overflowing with vibrant color and lush texture.

Denise has mastered the art of using variegated jasmines in her landscape. Each container seemed to glow with life, and the varied hues and patterns of the foliage made every corner of her garden worth a second look.

One of the first plants to catch my eye was Summer Sunset Asiatic jasmine.

The foliage of this plant glows in fiery shades of yellow, orange, copper and bronze mingled with deep green. The leathery, glossy leaves shimmer in the sunlight, creating a dynamic play of warm tones.

This vigorous plant has a naturally spreading and trailing habit, making it ideal for cascading over container edges or spilling gracefully along borders. Denise uses it to soften the hard lines of her pots, where the glowing leaves create the effect of sunlight captured in foliage.

Snow-N-Summer Asiatic jasmine was the next plant to practically stop me in my tracks.

This plant’s new growth bursts out in shades of bright pink and then matures to soft white and green as the season progresses. The constant flush of fresh color makes this variety ever-changing and endlessly interesting.

Spilled over a container’s edge, the pink, white and green leaves give the appearance of a living floral arrangement, even though it is all foliage.

Another one of Denise’s plants that I noticed is a classic green and white variegated jasmine. This plant is a timeless option for adding light and contrast to a garden.

The small, glossy dark green leaves of the variegated jasmine are edged in creamy white and look refined. Denise paired this jasmine with darker-leaved plants, letting the lighter foliage act as an accent to balance the composition.

What makes all of these jasmines impressive is their toughness and low-maintenance requirements. They are drought-tolerant once established, thriving in well-drained soil. They appreciate regular watering during dry spells but are forgiving if you forget them now and then.

Jasmines are adaptable to sun or shade and require only an occasional trim to maintain their shape. Denise prefers to let hers spill naturally over the sides of her containers. This creates a soft, cascading effect that looks effortless.

If you want to add year-round color and texture to your landscape without the fuss, variegated jasmines are hard to beat. These plants are durable, adaptable and stunning in every season.