by Ken Lain, The Mountain Gardener, Watters Garden center
White flowers tie gardens together no matter your style, color or scent. They take the guesswork out of a garden design. Shades of cream, ivory, silver and pure snow blossoms layer seamlessly to form a peaceful landscape day or night.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but rather the most popular flowers planted by local gardeners.
Candytuft has a 6-inch flower mounded in white flowers butterflies find welcoming. It tolerates drought, which is perfect for rock gardens. These spread to make a pleasant ground cover in full-sun gardens.
Clematis grows better in the mountains than in other parts of the county. White varieties prefer their roots in the shade where the vines can bloom into the sun. Fragrant white varieties are Sweet Autumn, Snow Queen and Candida.
Dahlia offers cheerful poms with Tiny Treasure, simple daisy-like blooms with Cherubino and giant blossoms with Frozen.
Daisies, including the classic Becky, used to make daisy chains, grace your gardens in white from July to September.
Foxglove is perennially famous in shade gardens or grown in containers under patio covers. The Camelot series is gently freckled with rave reviews for solid and upright stems packed with blooms. Standing knee high, this flower is a designer favorite in a pot
at entries.
Gardenias are hardy in local shade gardens. The star-shaped flowers bloom for months with the most fragrance in the morning and sunset. Grown directly in the garden, I prefer this fragrant evergreen in containers where the scent fills a patio, deck or wherever the sun sets.
Hibiscus plants appear luscious, tropical and fun. Hardy hibiscus perennial returns each year. Disco Belle White blooms in the summer
heat. Also, the Mochitos series of hibiscus is the largest of the series.
Hydrangea offers softball-sized blossoms that last week upon weeks, fading to a pleasing green color as summer progresses. Give hydrangeas light shade and moist soil for the healthiest plants.
Jasmine is most famous for its dangling fragrance. The sweet aroma attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, neighbors and gardeners alike. Try growing this vine as a container plant, trained up a trellis.
Lilac varieties are most common in purple, but white types are the most fragrant. The plant grows in total sun exposure to wind and crummy soil.
Peonies are so easy to grow in sunny mountain gardens. They require rich soil to create classic softball-sized flowers. White varieties like Bowl of Cream, Dr. F.G. Brethour and Nick Shaylor are favorites.
Petunia blooms nonstop from April to Thanksgiving. The Supertunia is a favorite requiring no deadheading with repeat blooms in waves of constant seasonal color. Supertunia Latte is white with veins of purple, stunning in hanging baskets and window boxes. A newer flower is Supertunia White, with a delicate green throat that is drop dead gorgeous.
Roses remain the quintessential garden flower. And with so many cultivars to choose from, the design possibilities are endless. For climbing desires, choose White Dawn; repeat blooms all season long. For white shrub roses, choose Pure Perfume. Moondance, JFK and Pope John Paul II are stunning in containers. White Simplicity hedge is best in formal gardens.
Insider Flower Tip
Plants that bloom need regular food to set new flowers and repeat the fragrant cycle. Feed your flowering plants twice monthly for nonstop hanging baskets, window boxes, containers and raised beds. Feed flowers two weeks before significant weddings, backyard parties and gatherings for flowers that WOW!
