Blooms featuring a white color
In the world of horticulture, white-flowered plants are a delight to behold, adding a touch of freshness and elegance to any garden. Here's a seasonal guide to some of the most beautiful white-flowered plants that can thrive in the UK climate, offering a continuous display of blooms throughout the year.
Winter
White-flowered plants are a beacon of hope during the cold, dark winter months. Christmas rose hellebores (Helleborus niger) bloom from late fall into mid-winter, presenting pure white flowers. The evergreen shrub, Daphne (Daphne odora), with its intensely fragrant white flowers, blooms late winter into early spring. Pansies (Viola tricolor var. hortensis) can also bloom white during mild winters and tolerate frost.
Spring
As winter fades, spring arrives, and so do the Hellebores (Lenten roses). These bloom in late winter to early spring with various shades, including white and ivory. Snowdrops, while not detailed in this list, are a common option for white spring bulbs.
Summer
Summer gardens can benefit from the delicate white flowers of Oenothera lindheimeri (evening primrose), a drought-tolerant plant that thrives in light, well-drained soil. White hydrangeas and white-flowering shrubs such as Rhododendrons and Tea Olives provide summer white blooms.
Autumn (Fall)
Autumn brings its own charm, and white-flowered plants continue to shine. Cosmos in white varieties provide airy, delicate white flowers blooming into autumn. Asters can bloom white in autumn, offering height and late-season color. Pansies also bloom through autumn frosts, often re-blooming into spring.
This seasonal selection offers hardy, attractive white flowers that can bloom and thrive through cold winters, fresh spring, hot summers, and cool autumns, helping maintain white-flowered interest all year round. Planting some of these perennials and shrubs in combinations allows a garden with continuous white floral highlights through all seasons.
Other Notable Mentions
White-flowered plants are versatile and combine well with flowers of any other color in gardens. Erigeron karvinskianus looks great at the front of a border, growing in crevices in walls and paving, or spilling out of pots.
Snowdrops light up the garden in late winter and are often said to herald the arrival of spring. Nerines put on a beautiful display of lily-like flowers in late autumn, mostly in shades of pink or red, but also in pure white.
Camellia sasanqua flowers in November and December, providing year-round interest with evergreen foliage. Roses have many beautiful white or creamy white varieties.
Crocuses follow hot on the heels of snowdrops in late winter, bringing much-needed color and winter nectar. Anemones light up a partially shaded corner in spring, forming a white carpet. Hellebores start flowering in late winter and often carry on until late spring.
Many white-flowered plants are scented, which helps attract nocturnal pollinators such as moths. Autumn crocus appear seemingly from nowhere in early autumn - their flowers appear before their foliage. They're actually not crocuses at all, but part of the lily family.
White flowers are particularly useful for lighting up shady corners and are visible at dusk. Gaura is beautiful and useful in equal measure. They have a long flowering season, usually from spring into autumn.
The list includes 40 plants with white flowers, divided by season, providing a wealth of options for gardeners seeking to add a touch of elegance and freshness to their gardens all year round. Happy planting!
