Using white in the garden has many benefits. Adding light to shady areas, a feeling of calm, and showing up at night are a few benefits of a white flower garden.
Do you have white flowers in your garden? I often buy a flat of white Impatiens to use in my containers and spots throughout the garden. They add balance and light. And, often you can get the entire flat at a discount as a loss leader at a big box store, saving you money along the way.
Consider a White Flower Garden
5 Reasons Why
1. White is the color of purity and often gives you the feeling of calm and serenity.
2. White blooms give your eyes a break in an otherwise vibrant landscape or container garden.
3. White adds light to shady areas.
4. White can be seen clearly in the evening as it reflects the moonlight. Some even create a "Moon Garden" using lots of white flowers, variegated foliage, and silver-toned plants to enjoy in the evening.
5. A white border adds light to a walkway and can make an entrance look crisp and clean.
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Pete Chapman - geograph.org.uk/p/26686
One of the most famous white flower gardens is The White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, England. Only white, green, and silver plants are allowed to grow there. The idea is when you are working with a single color palette you are challenged to create drama and interest with shape, texture, and form.
White Flowering Plant Choices
So many flowering garden plants come in shades of white.
Annuals are an easy to find, temporary, and affordable choice. Verbena, sweet alyssum, cosmos, and impatiens are just a few of the many annuals that come in varieties with lovely white blossoms.
Perennials are great mid-sized flowering plants that come back every year saving you time and money. There are many white varieties of perennials—peonies, daisies, and salvia to name a few.
Shrubs and flowering trees will add a nice structure to your garden. Think azaleas, magnolias, or mock orange (shown below) with its sweet fragrance in late spring and early summer.
Note: Many people prefer beautiful blue hydrangea flowers. However, there are several great varieties in white that are better bloomers and easier to grow.
Bulbs - Many bulbs such as daffodils and hyacinths come in shades of white, and they will come back for years, and are deer-resistant.
Here are a few of my favorites:
So the next time you are at the nursery amongst all the colorful flowers consider choosing some of the pretty pure white flowers too.
Carole
White is a favorite here for the crisp and clean beauty. White Stock and white roses are probably my favorites and I just picked up some Candy Tuft yesterday for a photo - doesn't last long here but it sure is pretty!
Patti Estep
Hi Carole,
It seems like just about all flowers have a white variety and I agree that stock and roses are great choices.
However, white annuals like Candy Tuft for me are often worth the small price for their short time in the garden.
Heather @ new house new home
There's nothing like a white garden in the evening - so relaxing!
Kelly
I am in the process of making my back yard an all white garden ( see my post Sissinghurst on my mind ) Do you know that famous white garden? Great post - thx I will be checking out the white flowers you suggest!
🙂 Kelly
Patti
I know about Sissinghurst but sadly have not visited. Beautiful pictures online. I'll have to check out your post.