Mint Green & White Leaves on Plants

Trees

• Trees provide shade and wind blocks in the landscape. The Variegatum or silver-leaf box elder (Acer negundo "Variegatum") has light-green leaves with a thick, white margin. This deciduous tree grows to 50 feet tall with a 40-foot spread. It tolerates a range of soils, from dry to wet, and is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 to 9. The Drumondii Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) grows to 20 feet tall with a 12-foot spread and is hardy in zones 3 to 7. This deciduous tree has light green leaves edged with white. It grows best in full sun and tolerates heat, drought and a range of soils.

Shrubs

• Shrubs with green and white foliage can be used as hedges or to line borders or walkways. The Bewley's variegated laurustinus viburnum (Viburnum tinus "Bewley's) has glossy, light green leaves with white, uneven margins. This evergreen grows from 6 to 12 feet tall with an slightly narrower spread and is hardy in USDA zones 7b to 10. It prefers well-drained, moist soil and sun to partial shade. The elegans boxwood (Buxus sempervirens "Elegantissima" has small, evergreen foliage with thick, creamy-white to yellow borders. This shrub grows to 4 feet tall with a similar spread and is hardy in zones 6 to 8. It prefers sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.

Ground Covers

• Ground covers form a low-growing mat that prevents erosion and blocks weeds.

  Variegated bishop's weed (Aegopodium podograria"Variegatum") has mottled white and green foliage. This deciduous plant spreads quickly and is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. It prefers partial to full shade and thrives in a variety of soils. Variegated lamium (Lamium maculatum "Variegatum") also has green and white, variegated foliage. This evergreen grows quickly from 6 to 12 inches tall and spreads into a carpet of contrasting foliage. It is hardy in zones 3 to 8 and prefers partial to full shade and acidic, cool, well-drained soil.

Perennials

• Perennials live for at least three years. While most are grown for their flowers, a few have attractive green and white foliage. Hostas (Hosta spp.) grow from 6 to 36 inches tall, depending on cultivar. These perennials grow in clumps of broad-leaved foliage and are hardy in zones 3 to 9. They thrive in partial to full shade and well-drained, fertile soil. The April Snow cultivar has large, mint-green leaves rimmed with white. Picta ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea "Picta") grows to 18 inches tall and has green fronds with white margins. It grows best in light shade and tolerates wet to dry soil. Picta ribbon grass is hardy in zones 4 to 9.