It's hot! This unusual heat wave that has Florida in its grip has truly been oppressive and dangerous to folks who make their living outdoors. Here on the coast, the temperatures rarely reach the 90's but they have been well above that mark this week. The normal afternoon storms have been hit or miss and not all that cooling.

A bit of shade is a welcome thing when the weather is hot, but sometimes a challenge to landscape. The shade is where variegated plants shine; the light bright foliage seems to glow in dense shade. But there is a paradox, many plants with lots of variegation need more light for good growth due to the fact there is less chlorophyll in the leaves to do the work of keeping the plant alive.

It is easy to overdo variegated plants, from a distance they can look unkempt or messy. Too much white or any bright color can be distracting and a mixture of colors and textures is simply ugly. I use variegated plants sparingly, though like most horticulturists, I find them fascinating. Choose one variegated species, plant several together and be sure to frame them with green-leafed plants. Accent can be provided with contrasting flowers, but I prefer white blooms with variegated leaves to carry the eye across the entire landscape.

White gardens are lovely in the shade and spectacular at night where they beautifully glow. Here are a few of my favorite white variegated and flowered plants for warm gardens. What are your favorites?

One of the best plants for the shade is mondo grass A.K.A. Ophiopogon japonicus. This selection is known as 'Shiroshima Ryu' and it make a nice ground cover, filler for pavers or stepping stones, it even has some wear tolerance.

An unusual croton caught my eye the other day, it is know as 'Eburneum' and like most crotons will require some sun for best color. It seemed to just glow.

Normally used as house plants, Spathiphyllum makes a lovely bed in the shade in frost free zones. The variety 'Domino' offers both variegated leaves and white flowers.

Pretty with blooms to perfume the air, one of the best choices for shade gardens is Begonia odorata 'Alba.'

Finally, there is no finer shade plant that a caladium. This selection, 'Aaron' is an old variety, but its reliable foliage and clean white color makes it a winner.