55 Flawless Plants With White Flowers, Including Classic And Unusual Options
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From EMILY CUPIT
Emily is a Gardening Writer, Photographer and Videographer from Derbyshire, UK. She is the Founder of Emily's Green Diary - a community of more than 75,000 people who share in her gardening journey.
IN THIS GUIDE
- 1) Lily Of The Valley
- 2) Phlox paniculata ‘David’
- 3) Shasta Daisy
- 4) Star Jasmine
- 5) Eastern Thorn
- 6) Crocus ‘Snow Bunting’
- 7) Carnation ‘Milky Way’
- 8) Star Magnolia
- 9) Silver Sage
- 10) Everlasting Pea ‘White Pearl’
- 11) Apple ‘Discovery’
- 12) Japanese Aralia
- 13) Callery Pear
- 14) White-Flowered Dittany
- 15) Daffodil ‘Thalia’
- 16) False Bishop’s Weed
- 17) Koreanspice Viburnum
- 18) White Stonecrop
- 19) Tulip ‘White Dream’
- 20) Gladiolus ‘Murmansk’
- 21) Autumn Ox-Eye
- 22) Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’
- 23) Snow-In-Summer
- 24) Plum ‘Valor’
- 25) White English Lavender
- 26) Hellebore ‘Winter Moonbeam’
- 27) Woodland Tobacco Plant
- 28) Mock Orange ‘Snowbelle’
- 29) Hupeh Crab
- 30) Prunus incisa f. yamadei
- 31) Dahlia ‘My Love’
- 32) Lesser Periwinkle
- 33) Arum Lily ‘White Giant’
- 34) Iceberg Rose
- 35) Peony ‘White Charm’
- 36) Mexican Fleabane
- 37) Allium ‘Mount Everest’
- 38) White Japanese Wisteria
- 39) White-Flowered Bugle ‘Alba’
- 40) Raki Hebe
- 41) Bloody Cranesbill ‘Album’
- 42) Bottlebrush Buckeye
- 43) Dwarf White Fan-Leaved Columbine
- 44) Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
- 45) White Hebe
- 46) Salvia ‘Bumblesnow’
- 47) Willow-Leaved Loosestrife
- 48) Hellebore ‘Verboom Beauty’
- 49) New Zealand Holly
- 50) Scabiosa caucasica ‘White Perfection’
- 51) Cloven Gum Box
- 52) Aubrieta deltoidea ‘Snowdrift’
- 53) Yoshino Cherry
- 54) Golden Indian Bean Tree
- 55) Sweet Woodruff
- References
White flowers can bring a burst of classic colour to any garden display, but with such a collection to choose from, the choice can prove overwhelming.
We love the pure aesthetic and contrast against more vibrant colours that white flowers can bring to an outdoor space.
In this guide, we share fifty-five of our favourite white-flowering plants, from gorgeous perennials that work in garden beds to large fruit trees that are great for more than just their beautiful white blossom.
Whatever you are looking for, this list is a great place to start – with imagery and growing tips for each plant:
1) Lily Of The Valley
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Convallaria majalis
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay or loam; any pH
To kick off the list, I’ve chosen a classic cottage garden perennial that produces stunning bell-shaped, arching flowers during the summer months that come in the purest shade of white.
Lily of the valley is fully hardy and easy to care for once planted out, making it a great choice for ground cover planting or for planting in a more natural garden scheme.
2) Phlox paniculata ‘David’
- COMMON NAME(S): perennial phlox ‘David’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, clay, loam; any pH
Phlox is a popular choice for gardeners as they are low-maintenance but still provide stunning blooms, and the perennial phlox ‘David’ is no exception.
With clusters of white flowers that grow on upright stems up to 1.5m tall, these fragrant flowers will be a joy for you and the pollinators who visit your garden.
3) Shasta Daisy
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Leucanthemum × superbum
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
A wildflower classic, the shasta daisy is loved for its frilly flower heads that feature thin white petals and large yellow centres.
I’d recommend planting these lovely flowers in an informal border or bed, or, if you like, you can use them as cut flowers and place them in displays around your home inside.
4) Star Jasmine
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Trachelospermum jasminoides
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: climber / shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; any pH
The first evergreen on this list, star jasmine does not just bear clusters of star-shaped white blooms in the summer, but its oval, dark green leaves provide year-round interest, with tinges of bronze and red appearing on them in the cooler months of the year.
Star jasmine has a climbing habit and can grow up to 12m in height with an 8m spread, so try growing this plant at the back of borders along a trellis or wall.
This shrub could also be a great choice for hedging.
5) Eastern Thorn
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Crataegus orientalis
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Crataegus orientalis, or Eastern Thorn, is a deciduous tree that produces small 5-petalled flower clusters that are beloved by bees and butterflies.
6) Crocus ‘Snow Bunting’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): crocus ‘snow bunting’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: bulb / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Ideal for container growing, C. ‘Snow Bunting’ is a small bulbous perennial that grows to only 10cm in height and spread.
Its flowers are made up of pure white petals which are tinged with a creamy yellow at the centre.
This plant would make a great choice for a gravel or rock garden, or for a potted display for those who may not have lots of room for growing larger plants.
7) Carnation ‘Milky Way’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Milky Way’
- HARDINESS RATING: H2
- PLANT TYPE: annual / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; alkaline to neutral pH
Among the white-flowering carnation varieties, ‘Milky Way’ is one of my favourites.
Their layered, frilly creamy-white petals can grow on stems up to 1m tall and would look great in a garden border or container display.
As a frost-tender plant, ‘Milky Way’ is usually grown as an annual in the UK.
8) Star Magnolia
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Magnolia stellata
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay, loam, sand; any pH
Star magnolia is a medium-sized shrub that produces star-shaped flowers that are made up of thin, white tepals and creamy centres in the spring.
A great choice if you’re looking for something low-maintenance, star magnolia can be used in many ways in your garden, but the back of a border or as part of a cottage scheme would look best.
9) Silver Sage
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Salvia argentea
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; any pH
Silver sage is a slight exception to this list, as although it does produce small white flowers on upright stems in the summer, it is usually grown for its silver foliage that can last year-round.
So, if you’re looking for a plant with an ornamental value that goes beyond its white blooms, silver sage could be a good option to consider.
10) Everlasting Pea ‘White Pearl’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Lathyrus latifolius ‘White Pearl’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: shrub / climber
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Everlasting peas are beautiful flowers to grow, and ‘White Pearl’ is a great example.
With racemes that open to reveal pure white flowers in the summer and autumn months, this shrub would make a truly delightful addition to any garden.
This deciduous climber would look great growing against a wall or trellis at the back of a garden bed.
11) Apple ‘Discovery’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Malus domestica ‘Discovery’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay, sand, loam; neutral pH
Growing up to 8m in height with a similar spread, this apple tree variety ‘Discovery’ bears beautiful white blossom that is tinged with pink throughout spring.
In autumn, ‘Discovery’ produces edible fruit that can be used to suit your culinary needs.
12) Japanese Aralia
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Fatsia japonica
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): autumn
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Fatsia japonica is one of my favourite autumn flowering shrubs, producing tiny white flowers in rounded clusters and star-shaped leaves that can grow up to 45cm in diameter.
Japanese aralia is easy to grow and looks great in many different garden schemes as long as it is grown in a sheltered position.
13) Callery Pear
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Pyrus calleryana
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay, loam, sand; any pH
The Callery pear tree is another option on the list that not only produces white flower blossoms in the spring but also bears edible fruit in the autumn.
These brown pears can be eaten raw or cooked into pies, jams or jellies.1Pyrus calleryana Callery Pear. (n.d.). Plants for a Future. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pyrus+calleryana
However, before deciding whether or not to grow this deciduous tree, it’s important to note that it can grow to heights above 12m and 8m in width, so make sure you have adequate space before planting!
14) White-Flowered Dittany
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Dictamnus albus var. purpureus
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
This unique perennial produces beautiful white-petaled flowers in the summer that are often accented by deep pink veins.
White-flowering dittany looks great when planted in flower beds or borders with other perennial flowers.
15) Daffodil ‘Thalia’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Narcissus ‘Thalia’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: bulb / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Daffodils are known for their bright yellow blooms, but the cultivar ‘Thalia’ produces milky-white petals that still bear the classic trumpet shape that we all know and love.
Grow these deciduous perennials in flower borders, traditional cottage gardens or in a potted lasagne planting scheme with other spring-flowering bulbs.
“Narcissus ‘Thalia’ is a fantastic cultivar that I have both in the garden and grow every year in pots as well,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“I find them robust on a windy site and a pure white that really stands out.”
16) False Bishop’s Weed
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Ammi majus
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: annual
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; any pH
Ammi majus produces small white flowers that grow in clusters on upright stems that can reach up to 1m in height.
Grown as an annual here in the UK, they are best grown in wildflower meadows or cottage garden planting schemes to provide a burst of fresh colour.
17) Koreanspice Viburnum
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Viburnum carlesii
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn / winter
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
A low-maintenance shrub, Koreanspice viburnum produces round clusters of small, white, star-shaped flowers in spring that are tinged with a pale pink hue.
If that isn’t enough to get you running to your local garden centre, oval black fruits adorn the branches in the cooler months of the year that are great for added ornamental value.
18) White Stonecrop
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Sedum album
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / succulent
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; alkaline to neutral pH
White stonecrop is the only succulent on this list, so if you’re looking for a white flowering perennial with unusual fleshy, waxy yellow-green leaves, then this might just be the plant for you.
During the summer months, this plant bears clusters of star-shaped flowers on stems that only grow up to 10cm tall, making this plant ideal for ground cover, or for growing in a rock or gravel garden.
19) Tulip ‘White Dream’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Tulipa ‘white dream’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: bulb / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; any pH
Tulips are a beloved English cottage garden favourite, and the variety ‘White Dream’ is a lovely example of why.
With creamy-white flowers that are in that distinctive goblet shape, ‘White Dream’ is a perennial that would look great in a container display with other spring-flowering bulbs.
You can also harvest the flowers and their stems and use them as part of a cut flower display.
20) Gladiolus ‘Murmansk’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Gladiolus ‘Murmansk’
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / bulb
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Gladiolus ‘Murmansk’ produces white, ruffled blooms that grow on tall, upright spikes that reach up to 1m in height with half the spread.
Another bulbous perennial, this summer-flowering plant is a great choice for cottage gardens or potted displays.
However, you’ll need to keep an eye on this plant over the winter months, as it might need protection if the weather turns too cold.
21) Autumn Ox-Eye
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Leucanthemella serotina
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
A perennial that can grow up to 1.5m in height, autumn ox-eye produces milky-white daisies with yellow centres that can reach 7cm in diameter at the top of thick, upright stems.
Autumn ox-eye would look brilliant in a wildflower plant scheme or in a flower bed or border.
22) Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; acidic to neutral pH
Hardier than other agapanthus varieties, ‘Galaxy White’ produces clusters of white flowers that grow atop tall, thick stems up to 1.5m high.
This plant is easy to grow and its flowers last from the start of summer through to autumn, making it great for pollinators who can enjoy its blooms right up until the first frosts.
23) Snow-In-Summer
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Cerastium tomentosum
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Snow-in-summer is a lovely choice for flower beds and borders that are in need of a spreading shrub that will brighten up the display.
Commonly used for ground cover, this deciduous perennial produces star-white flowers in a bright white shade that are in bloom throughout the spring and summer months.
24) Plum ‘Valor’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Prunus domestica ‘Valor’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: fruit / shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay, loam, sand; acidic to neutral pH
With beautiful white flowers growing from woody stems in the spring, plum ‘Valor’ also produces delicious fruits in the summer that can be eaten in lots of different ways.
This tree is smaller than other fruit-bearing ones on this list, so would make a great choice for gardeners who want to grow their own fruit but don’t have endless amounts of space.
25) White English Lavender
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Lavandula angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
An unusual English lavender cultivar, ‘Nana Alba’ has small, star-shaped white flowers that appear in the summer that grow from short grey stems that reach up to 50cm tall.
I’d recommend placing these fragrant flowers in a garden border or in pots next to paths so you can enjoy their aromatic qualities throughout the blooming season.
26) Hellebore ‘Winter Moonbeam’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Helleborus × ericsmithii ‘Winter Moonbeam’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter / spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, clay, loam; alkaline to neutral pH
‘Winter Moonbeam’ is a white flowering hellebore that flowers over the cooler months of the year, producing ruffled white blooms that grow from small stalks.
A relatively hardy plant, ‘winter moonbeam’ would look great in a rock garden or a potted patio display.
27) Woodland Tobacco Plant
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Nicotiana sylvestris
- HARDINESS RATING: H2
- PLANT TYPE: biennial / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, clay, loam; any pH
The woodland tobacco plant is a frost-tender plant and is either grown as a biennial or an annual here in the UK.
It produces unique, white flowers that are salver-shaped and droop down towards the ground from the tall, upright stem that they grow from.
This plant would work well in a flower bed or border with other annuals.
28) Mock Orange ‘Snowbelle’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Philadelphus ‘Snowbelle’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
With beautiful, pure white blooms, mock orange ‘Snowbelle’ is a fragrant shrub that puts on its best display during the summer months.
It is a relatively low-maintenance plant and would look great in a traditional cottage garden scheme or in flower borders or beds.
29) Hupeh Crab
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Malus hupehensis
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: trees
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
The Hupeh crab is a species of crab apple from China that is now commonly grown in UK gardens.
Growing up to 8m tall, this deciduous tree produces lovely white blossoms in spring and edible apples in autumn that are actually the size of cherries rather than the apples we are used to seeing in our local supermarkets.
30) Prunus incisa f. yamadei
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- FRUIT SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Another tree that grows to 8m, Prunus incisa f. yamadei is a type of cherry tree that produces white blossom in spring and is very easy to grow.
Although I wouldn’t recommend eating the berries from this tree, they are great for birds and other wildlife who frequent your garden.
31) Dahlia ‘My Love’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Dahlia ‘my love’
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay, sand, loam; any pH
Dahlias are popular perennials that come in a huge spectrum of colours and ‘my love’ is one of my favourite white varieties.
These flowers have lots of layered petals that are curled under, which creates spiky-looking blooms throughout the summer and autumn months.
The centres of these flowers are also usually tinged with a creamy-green colour.
32) Lesser Periwinkle
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Vinca minor f. alba
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
This short, spreading shrub bears milky-white flowers from spring to autumn and is truly a gardener’s delight.
The Periwinkle variety is easy to care for, keeps its foliage throughout the year and goes well in lots of different garden planting schemes.
Although it makes a great ground cover plant, I particularly like the look of these Periwinkles when paired with other beautiful, traditional flowers in a cottage garden.
33) Arum Lily ‘White Giant’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Zantedeschia ‘White Giant’
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay or loam; any pH
Arum lily ‘White Giant’ has funnel-shaped spathes and orange calyxes at their centres that grow on stems up to 2.5m tall in the summer and autumn months.
With dark green leaves that are covered in tiny creamy-white spots, the foliage will also add some interest year-round wherever you choose to grow it.
34) Iceberg Rose
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Rosa ‘Iceberg’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
A relatively small shrub, the iceberg rose produces white, ruffled, double-layered flowers that can grow up to 8cm in diameter during summer and autumn.
This stunning plant was actually shortlisted for the RHS’s ‘Plant of the Centenary’ award in 2013, highlighting just how highly regarded these beautiful blooms are.2Chelsea Flower Show 2013: Plant of the Centenary shortlist. (2013, April 25). The Telegraph. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningpicturegalleries/10020371/Chelsea-Flower-Show-2013-Plant-of-the-Centenary-shortlist.html?frame=2547268
Grow this shrub in your flower beds or use its cut flowers for stunning displays around your home.
35) Peony ‘White Charm’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Paeonia ‘White Charm’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay, loam, sand; any pH
A lovely white-flowering peony variety, ‘White Charm’ is exactly what its name suggests – a charming, ruffled flower with lots of frilly white petals.
Flowering during the spring and summer months, this plant is easy to grow and will make a lovely addition to a mixed perennial bed.
36) Mexican Fleabane
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Erigeron karvinskianus
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Another daisy-like cultivar, the Mexican Fleabag bears lots of frilly white petals around a yellow centre and is beloved by pollinators, making it a great choice for a wildlife garden.
37) Allium ‘Mount Everest’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Allium stipitatum ‘Mount Everest’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: bulb / perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Allium ‘Mount Everest’ is a fascinating plant, as its tiny star-shaped flowers grow in clusters of around 50 on the top of tall stems to create a ball-like effect.
Growing up to 1.5m tall, this bulbous perennial would make a great feature in a gravel or rock garden, or it could be used as a centrepiece in a small flower bed.
38) White Japanese Wisteria
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: shrub / climber
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Wisteria is my favourite plant of all time, so it’s no surprise that this stunning white variety ‘Alba’ is one of my top picks from this long list.
The lovely white blooms grow along drooping branches in abundance and can look glorious if draped over a wall or grown against a trellis at the back of a border.
39) White-Flowered Bugle ‘Alba’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Ajuga reptans f. albiflora ‘Alba’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
With white flowers growing on upright stems in the spring and summer, ‘Alba’ is a lovely variety of Bugle that would look great if grown in a colourful garden bed with other perennials.
40) Raki Hebe
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Hebe rakaiensis
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; alkaline to neutral pH
Although hebes are more commonly grown for their foliage, this variety produces lovely white spikes of flowers in early summer that, for me, add a touch of class to this short shrub.
Perfect for container growing or for a garden border, Raki Hebe bears tiny green leaves that have a glossy finish all throughout the year.
41) Bloody Cranesbill ‘Album’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
‘Album’ has star-shaped white blooms in the summer that emerge from dark green leaves that are shaped like snowflakes.
A fully hardy plant, this deciduous perennial is easy to grow in the UK and makes a great ground cover.
42) Bottlebrush Buckeye
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Aesculus parviflora
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
This large shrub is another favourite of mine, as its tall stems bear white flowers with long stamens that are pink at the end – a truly unique sight.
As it can spread up to 8m wide, this shrub is ideal for hedging or garden screening, and it is also relatively low-maintenance, which is great if you don’t have the time to regularly prune your hedges.
43) Dwarf White Fan-Leaved Columbine
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Aquilegia flabellata ‘Nana Alba’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
This columbine is a dwarf variety that produces creamy-white blooms that are only 3cm wide in spring and summer.
These perennials can be ideal for ground cover in a gravel or rock garden and are easy to care for once planted.
44) Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
With star-shaped flowers that have curled petals, this escallonia variety is a lovely shrub to grow at the back of a border or as a garden hedge.
‘Iveyi’ also has glossy green leaves that have slightly spiked edges, providing interest all year round.
45) White Hebe
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Hebe albicans
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; alkaline to neutral pH
Another hebe variety, Hebe albicans produces white blooms in summer that are sometimes tinged with a pale lilac hue.
Its waxy, green evergreen leaves also sometimes appear silver throughout the year, so it’s definitely a good choice if you’re wanting something ornamental.
46) Salvia ‘Bumblesnow’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Salvia ‘Bumblesnow’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; all soil types
Balkan Clary ‘Bumblesnow’ is a white-flowering member of the salvia family, producing white-lipped blooms from tall bushy stems during the summer and autumn months.
This deciduous perennial is great for growing in wildlife-friendly gardens.
47) Willow-Leaved Loosestrife
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Lysimachia ephemerum
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: clay or loam; any pH
Lysimachia ephemerum produce lots of small star-shaped flowers that clump together on the tops of upright stems.
I actually prefer these plants in the late summer when they start to die back, as their stems start to droop, creating an arching effect as seen in the image above.
Either way, loosestrife looks great in a traditional cottage garden scheme or flower bed.
48) Hellebore ‘Verboom Beauty’
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Helleborus ‘Verboom Beauty’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / houseplant
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter / spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, clay, loam; alkaline to neutral pH
‘Verboom Beauty’ is a white-flowering variety of hellebore that flowers early in the winter and blooms all the way through to late spring.
Hellebores are great for underplanting beneath shrubs, but I think this lovely variety would look great in its own container display.
49) New Zealand Holly
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Olearia macrodonta
- HARDINESS RATING: H4
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
New Zealand holly is a half-hardy, evergreen shrub that bears fragrant flowers with white petals and yellow centres – another daisy lookalike.
Its dark green foliage is spiky around the edges and is sometimes tinged in silver or white.
This is a brilliant choice for hedging or natural screening, as it can grow up to 4m in height and spread.
50) Scabiosa caucasica ‘White Perfection’
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; alkaline to neutral pH
With clusters of white star-shaped flowers that bloom from June-October, Scabiosa caucasica ‘White Perfection’ is a lovely choice for a wildlife-friendly garden.
You can also use the cut flowers for home displays.
51) Cloven Gum Box
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Escallonia bifida
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Escallonia bifida, also known as cloven gum box, is a popular choice for UK gardens, as it is easy to grow and it produces long-lasting clusters of small, star-shaped flowers in the summer and autumn months.
This evergreen shrub is a great choice for hedging, growing at the back of a border or for use in natural garden screening.
52) Aubrieta deltoidea ‘Snowdrift’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SOIL PREFERENCE: chalk, loam, sand; alkaline to neutral pH
‘Snowdrift’ is an uncommon Aubrieta deltoidea cultivar that bears beautiful, white, 4-petalled flowers in the spring and summer that are covered in thin pink veins.
Growing to only 10cm tall, ‘Snowdrift’ works well as a ground cover plant in garden beds or borders, or for underplanting other plants such as roses.
53) Yoshino Cherry
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Prunus × yedoensis
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Another tree, Yoshino cherries produce that beautiful white blossom that features a few times already on this list.
This popular deciduous plant works well in many garden displays and is great for a wild-life friendly garden, as bees love its fragrant flowers.
This tree can grow over 12m tall, so bear that in mind before planting it in your garden.
54) Golden Indian Bean Tree
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: tree
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- FRUIT SEASON(S): autumn / winter
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
The golden Indian bean tree is a summer-flowering deciduous plant that produces beautiful white ruffled flowers with brown centres that are followed by dark brown bean pods in the autumn and winter months.
Although these ‘fruits’ aren’t edible, they provide some lovely interest for your garden after your white blooms have faded.
55) Sweet Woodruff
- BOTANICAL NAME(S): Galium odoratum
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial / herb
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SOIL PREFERENCE: all soil types; any pH
Last but not least, sweet woodruff is a perennial herb that bears star-shaped flowers with 4 white petals from tall stems in the spring.
These dainty blooms look great in wildlife or cottage gardens and are also a good ground cover plant for flower beds and borders.
