Indoor Plants With White Trim

Herbs

• Herbs are plants that are used by humans in some way, such as for food, medicine or perfume. Many variegated plants are listed as edible in numerous cookbooks and gardening magazines. The common sage (Salvia officinalis) has a variegated form called “Tricolor,” and it bears white-edged leaves with purple new growth. If grown outside, it’s hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. The “Pesto Perpetuo” basil (Ocimum spp.) is a fragrant annual with a thin white edge that can be grown as a culinary herb or decorative annual, and if grown outside it’s hardy in USDA zones 2 through 11. Variegated Swedish ivy (Plectranthus spp.) is edible but is seldom used in cooking. It is more often used as a variegated summer annual hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11.

Hanging Plants

• Hanging plants are plants with a mounding or weeping habit that makes them suitable for hanging baskets. There are two well-known varieties of variegated spider plants (Chlorophytum spp.); one has white striping down the middle of the leaf, while the other has white striping down the leaf edges. These plants produce long stems with tiny plantlets on the end and look spectacular in indoor hanging baskets. When grown outdoors, they are hardy in USDA zones 10 through 11. The variegated creeping fig (Ficus spp.) produces papery leaves with a broad white edge and can also be grown outside in USDA zones 7 through 11 if placed in a shady location.

Upright Plants

• Upright plants stand alone and at some time might require support. The variegated rubber tree (Ficus spp.), for example, sometimes gets leggy when grown indoors and often requires a stake. Its large leaves produce broad white edges and can be quite dramatic. It is hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 10 through 11, but it’s used as an indoor plant nearly everywhere. The variegated Eureka lemon (Citrus spp.) not only provides glossy, white-edged leaves, but also, under the right conditions, you might be able to harvest your own decoratively striped lemons. They produce lemons indoors but produce more prolifically outdoors in their USDA hardiness zones 9 through 10.

Succulents

• Succulents are plants that have fleshy leaves designed to retain water. Indoors, water retention isn’t normally a problem, but outdoors, this quality helps a plant preserve itself during dry periods. Most succulents appreciate a bright sunny window when grown indoors. The agave, sometimes used in the production of tequila, has a variegated version with creamy white leaf edges. They make very dramatic houseplants but when grown outdoors are hardy only in USDA zones 9 through 11. Numerous bromeliads display a variety of colors and leaf shapes; many varieties have wide creamy-white margins. Most are common indoor plants but can be grown outside in USDA zones 9 through 11, depending on the species. Hens and chicks (Echeveria spp.) are commonly grown both inside and outside. The variety “Compton Carousel” displays a creamy band on each side of the leaf and is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 11.