The Prettiest White Flowers To Plant in Your Garden Now
Just as some people prefer dogs to cats, there are those who prefer colorful flowers to traditional houseplants, ferns, and climbing vines. Whether you plant them as a pop of color in a garden bed, a border along a front walkway, or a complement to a planter's color palette, white flowers are every bit as beautiful as more pigmented blooms. Because the color symbolizes renewal, purity, and healing, many white flowers are used ceremoniously for everything from births to weddings to funerals. The history of white flowers is long and rich, from the Dutch who bred cabbage roses in the 15th century to the many Eastern cultures who used jasmine as an herbal tea and natural medicine.
When you're deciding what type of white flowers to grow or add to your garden, it's important to consider more than just which ones you like the best. You need to make sure that the soil and sunlight conditions where you want to plant them meet their needs. Many flowers are hardy, and perennials can continue to bloom for decades when they're planted and cared for properly. You should also consider whether the flowers you like are safe for pets and humans, especially if you have a dog or cat or children who may come into contact with them. White flowers such as lily of the valley and yarrow are poisonous to pets and sometimes humans, so be cautious when planting or displaying toxic white flowers in high traffic or easily accessible areas.
The most popular white flower to grow is the classic white rose, but the peace lily is the most popular one to share as a gift. Carnations and cosmos symbolize first and second marriage anniversaries, respectively.
From petite yarrow to towering magnolias, read on to learn more about the 50 most beautiful white flowers to plant in your garden and use in bouquets.
Tuberose
Best known as a heady floral note in elegant perfumes, the tuberose flower is a tall-growing perennial.
Hellebore
Commonly called potter’s wheel or Christmas rose, hellebore is a perennial flower that blooms from late winter to early spring. It's perfect to add some to your evergreens when the rest is dormant.
Flowering Dogwood
Native to the eastern United States, flowering dogwood trees bloom in the spring before revealing their seed pods in the early summer. The flowers can be white or pink, so double check before buying your tree.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a fast-growing flower that looks more like a fern when clustered together. Left unchecked, it can take over a garden, so just remember to prune it back.
Ranunculus
Known for its dense, spiraling petals, ranunculus looks gorgeous in bouquets and comes in a wide range of colors including pure.
Cosmos
This annual flower features long, spindly stems, and it thrives in warm, sunny climates. Like ranunculus, it's a beautiful and useful addition to a cutting garden.
Chrysanthemum
The signature birth flower of November, mums are large, bushy flowers that can grow up to 16 inches high and 18 inches wide. They do extremely well in porch planters.
Lupine
Native to Nordic countries, lupine (aka bluebonnet or Texas bluebonnet) is famous for its purple hue, but it can also be white.
Begonia
Petite and delicate, begonia flowers thrive in tropical climates, including the southern United States, where they get ample sun and humidity.
Primrose
One of the first spring flowers to bloom, primrose often symbolizes youth, optimism, and renewal. They have a gorgeous fragrance and bloom at night, making them perfect for a moon garden.
Cabbage Rose
A more delicate version of their cousin the Damascus rose, cabbage roses are a hybrid species native to France. They're known for their light, honey-like scent and rounded blooms with creamy petals.
Water Lily
Actually an aquatic web, water lilies thrive when they receive up to six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Candytuft
A bushy, stout plant, candytuft blooms from spring to early summer and has standard care needs, including an ample amount of sun.
Rose
Classic and traditional, white roses symbolize purity and clear intentions. With their long stems, they're perfect for cutting gardens and arrangements.
Anemone
This hardy perennial requires a fair amount of water and partial sun to thrive. We love the personality they bring to loose bouquets and floral arrangements.
Orchid
Finicky to grow but immensely rewarding, orchids thrive in tropical-like climates with ample humidity. Caring for orchid plants indoors can take practice, but when you get their watering needs right you'll enjoy long-lasting blooms.
Foxglove
Reaching up to four feet in height, the foxglove flower thrives in the sun, but it likes some shade when the temperatures get too hot.
Narcissus
Also known as a daffodil, this sun-loving flower is also popular in its vibrant yellow variation. Plant the bulbs to enjoy year after year.
Magnolia
Flowering from late winter into early spring when its branches are still bare, this plant brings new life to any garden and smells divine.
Baby's Breath
Traditionally used in wedding bouquets and baby shower florals, baby's breath is an invasive species that grows low to the ground.
Alstroemeria
Also known as lily of the Incas or Peruvian lily, alstroemeria flowers are easy to identify by their speckled centers.
Hyacinth
Small but mighty hyacinth bulbs are fast growing and long lasting. Choose where you plant them carefully; they're poisonous to animals and humans if ingested and can irritate the skin.
Dianthus
With its interesting spiky petals, dianthus blooms from late spring into early summer. Some varieties even persist into early fall.
Jasmine
Fragrant with immune-boosting qualities, jasmine flowers are known for their dispersed blooms and wide health benefits.
Clematis
This perennial vine, native to Japan and China, prefers full sun with bouts of partial shade to care for its beautiful blooms.
Lilac
Native to southeastern Europe and eastern Asia, lilacs bloom for only about two weeks in late spring, but their beautiful flowers and deep, heady scent are well worth it.
Camellia
The signature flower of Chanel, the camellia is an evergreen shrub that prefers full shade.
Vinca
More colloquially known as periwinkle, vinca flowers were historically known as the "flower of death" due to their common use in funerals and grave sites.
Delphinium
Plant delphinium in well-draining soil in an area that receives six to eight hours of sun daily, and it'll reward you with spears packed with white blossoms.
Columbine
Not partial to sun or soil conditions, columbine flowers are hardy blooms that thrive in higher altitudes.
Moon Flower
Moonflowers prefer full sunlight to climb their vines as many as 15 feet tall. It's a beautiful choice for an arbor or garden wall.
Beach Spider Lily
The beach spider lily boasts unique thin bursts of petals. They're very easy to care for perennials that prefer partial shade.
Yucca
Native to Central America, yucca plants may be better known for their edible root (which is poisonous when raw), but their pretty flowers contain powerful antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Petunia
Usual flowers, petunias are an annual that grows in a mound formation between late spring to fall.
Daisy
The common daisy blooms from late spring through mid-summer, often marking the beginning of warm-weather days.
Tulip
Like daffodils and narcissus, these bulbs come back year after year. To keep cut tulips alive longer, add a few ice cubes to the vase with the water.
Carnation
Available in a variety of colors including pure white, carnations are perennial blooms that prefer moist soil and plenty of sunlight.
Peony
Blooming only from late spring to early summer, peonies love sunlight and need moist, well-drained soil. Few things are more beautiful than a bouquet of fluffy, sweet-smelling peonies, so a bush is a perfect addition to a cutting garden.
Wysteria
This tree has long, hanging tendrils of silky purple or white flowers like a willow. It can grow anywhere from 10 to 30 feet high and spread just as wide.
Trumpet
Trumpet flowers are an easy-to-grow plant that hummingbirds adore thanks to their long necks.
Peace Lily
Often gifted to those grieving, peace lilies symbolize healing and renewal. Like other lilies, they're extremely toxic to cats.
Gerbera Daisy
These semi-evergreen perennials are perfect if you love supersize traditional daisies. They do best in partial to full sun with well-draining soil.
Lily of the Valley
Small and precious (and toxic), lily of the valley is known for its miniature, bell-shaped blooms.
Hydrangea
Dense shrubs of hundreds of tiny flowers, the hydrangea is known for its pastel hues and coastal grandmother connotations.
Lily
These mid- to late-summer blooms have a powerful, sweet scent and attract all sorts of pollinators. But be careful, they're poisonous to pets—especially cats.
Pincushions
Named for their domed shape, pincushion flowers grow best in well-drained soil and are reasonably tolerant of drought.
Dahlia
These dense perennials, native to Mexico and South America, are known for their ultra-short seasons and incredibly large blooms. Any variety will look beautiful in your cutting garden.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus flowers are perennial shrubs that can stand between three and seven feet tall. They revel in direct sun exposure.
Calla Lily
An herbaceous perennial, calla lilies thrive during late spring and early summer. They can grow to up to three feet tall.
Heliotrope
The heliotrope plant is a perennial that loves full sun exposure and blooms throughout spring and summer and even into fall.
You Might Also Like
