Care must be taken when adding white-flowered perennials to the garden. You may well end up with a different effect from the one you intended. Shades range from the stark, jarring white of perennials such as Shasta Daisy to more muted, creamy tones of many other perennials. Combine the white-flowered perennials below with plants recommended and your garden will reward you with enhanced beauty.

* Watch for the animated hummingbird and butterfly with the plants that attract them. *
The deer icon indicates plants that deer are not usually attracted to.

The best time and method to propagate plants can be found on our image-intensive PROPAGATION page.

To help your plants grow their best, check out our FERTILIZATION page.

To create your own plant partnerships based on tried and true color theory, check out our GARDEN COLOR page.

To see if a particular plant is on this page press Ctrl+F, type in the name, then click the Find button.

ACHILLEA

Is your garden hot and dry? Is your soil poor? The Yarrows may just be your perfect low maintenance choice. Divide them in early spring or fall every two to three years to keep them flourishing.

Achillea ageratum 'W. B. Child':  small white daisy flowers with green eye, 36"

uses:  perennial borders, cut flower arrangements
for all-white effect with:  Heuchera 'June Bride'

with:  Delphinium (blue forms)

ACIDANTHERA

Fragrant Gladiolus is tall, very long-lasting, has extremely fragrant flowers on stems arising from sword-like foliage, 4-6 per stem and looking like "Glads". Also known as Abyssinian Gladiolus or Peacock Orchid, their corms must be lifted each fall and overwintered indoors. Perfect for a touch of the exotic in your gardens.

Acidanthera bicolor:  Fragrant Gladiolus, annual Zones 3-6, white with purple blotch

to follow:  Mertensia virginica, Doronicum caucasicum

ALCEA

Towering Hollyhocks, from 3 to 7 feet, produce single or double flowers with crinkled petals, opening from the bottom to the top. They are easily propagated by seed sown in fall where you want then to grow. Plants may bloom the first year but are actually biennials, producing foliage the first year and flowers the second.

Alcea:  Hollyhock, tall white forms including white 'Chater's Double'

beside:  Gypsophila paniculata
behind:  Achillea (a 3' yellow form)
behind:  Baptisia australis, Paeonia, Dictamnus, Aconitum

ALLIUM

The choices among the Ornamental Onions are so varied you'll want to Google them to find the ones you want to try. Hopefully these partnership ideas can direct you to a few you can use with plants already in your gardens.

Allium tuberosum:  Chinese Chives, Garlic Chives, Ornamental Garlic, starry white

seen above offset behind:  Limonium latifolium just beginning to bloom
under:  small shrubs or roses
beside:  Limonium latifolium, Helianthemum 'Wisley Pink'
behind:  Sedum 'Vera Jameson'
in front of:  Linaria purpurea 'Canon Went'

ANEMONE

Another genus of nearly unlimited choices, the Anemones have something for everyone, from early spring to fall bloomers, from edgers to mid-border choices and from sun to shade lovers.

Anemone blanda 'White Splendor':  Grecian Windflower

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

with:  Heliopsis scabra

with:  Aster, ferns, Ornamental Grasses, tall Dahlia

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

AQUILEGIA

Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants has this to say about the Columbines. "The word "columbine" is from the Latin columbinus, meaning "like a dove", or columba meaning "dove". When looked at from above, the petals of short-spurred types resemble doves with their tails in the air, hence the common names doves-in-a-ring and doves-round-a-dish.".

Aquilegia flabellata var. nana alba:  Fan Columbine

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

ARABIS

Rock Cress is a wonderful and easy alpine plant, perfect for spilling over rock edges. Its thick gray-green foliage is smothered in spring with small flowers that are sweetly scented. Like most alpines, it does best in well-drained, gritty soil in full sun.

Arabis caucasica 'Flore Plena':  Rock Cress

for partnership ideas follow the link to Edgers & Their Companions

for partnership ideas follow the link to Edgers & Their Companions

ARENARIA

Another easy alpine plant, Sandwort also requires good drainage and full sun, perfect for a sunny rock garden with neutral to slightly acidic soil. This is a diminutive perennial, growing only 2-4" tall. Leaves are narrow and form a low cushion covered in spring with starry 5-petalled blooms.

Arenaria montana:  Mountain Sandwort

where:  between pavers in walkways, in open walls, rock gardens, in pots, trough gardens

ARTEMISIA

Most Artemisias, or Wormwoods, are grown for their aromatic, shrubby foliage as their flowers are small and insignificant. Not so for those described below. Try them and enjoy their late summer creamy-white flowers held high above their bright green leaves.

Artemisia:  Wormwood

next to :  pink, purple and light blue shades (because of the silvery leaves, not the colour of the flowers)

with:  Hemerocallis, Monarda (red), Crocosmia, Heliopsis & Rudbeckia

with:  Dahlia
with:  red Monarda didyma, Echinops ritro, lemon-yellow Hemerocallis
behind:  Achillea 'Moonshine'
with:  late summer daisies i.e. Rudbeckia, Helenium
excellent behind:  Miscanthus sinensis 'Variegatus'
combined with:  Lobelia 'Compliment Scarlet', Monarda 'Gardenview Scarlet' & Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
behind:  Helenium autumnale

ARUNCUS

For its 4-6 foot height and spread alone, Goatsbeard deserves a featured position at the rear of your perennial border. For positions further forward you might want to try one of the shorter-statured forms. Foliage is light green and feathery off-white florets appear above to dominate the early summer garden.

Aruncus aesthusifolius:  Dwarf Goatsbeard

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials &Their Companions

for partnership ideas and a photograph follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

ASCLEPIAS

This meadow favourite is known by many common names including Chigger Flower, Indian Paintbrush, Pleurisy Root and Tuberroot as well as Butterfly Weed. Its fragrant flowers will draw butterflies to your garden during summer. Attractive seedpods will form after blooming ends. For long-lasting arrangements, the stems should be seared after cutting, before being put into water. Bonus - Butterfly Weed is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly and supplies nectar for many other butterfly species as well.

Asclepias 'Ice Ballet':  White Butterfly Weed

for partnership ideas follow the link to Butterfly Magnets & Their Companions

ASTER

With selections of every type, from short-statured early spring bloomers to tall fall-blooming specimens, there is something for everyone in the Aster genus, including the white form below. All need full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil with adequate moisture during the growing season.

Aster novae-angliae 'Autumn Snow':  New England Aster, Michaelmas Daisy

for partnership ideas follow the link to Butterfly Magnets & Their Companions

ASTILBE

Flowering in panicles or spikes, the Astilbe has numerous forms for every situation - from rockeries to perennial border specimens. Appreciating an annual mulch in spring with well-rotted compost, most forms, including the white forms below, grow best in partial shade.

Astilbe:  Astilbe, False Spirea, white forms

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

ASTRANTIA

Masterwort has interesting starry flowers surrounded by sharp bracts. Although this genus prefers moist shady borders it is adaptable to other sites. Different species provide varying colour choices, including pinks, reds, whites and greenish-white. Because it self-seeds, you will soon have a lovely patch to invite visitors' comments.

Astrantia major:  Masterwort, 30"x18"

where:  along borders, beside ponds or streams
with:  Thalictrum, spiky Verbascum, Ferns, Ornamental Grasses, Alchemilla mollis
in moist soil with:  Iris ensata, Iris sibirica
in drier soil with:  Iris x germanica, Artemisia, Penstemon
combined with:  Iris sibirica 'Little White', diminutive Geranium 'Ballerina' and Heuchera 'Pluie de Feu' (cherry-red)

BAPTISIA

Gray-green foliage and spikes of pea-like flowers cover the shrub-like 3-4 foot tall Plains False Indigo, also known as Blue False Indigo by early summer. Best in a sunny location as well as in well-drained, humusy soil a little on the acidic side.

Baptisia alba:  white Wild Indigo

interplanted with:  Aquilegia canadensis

BERGENIA

Another vigorous perennial, Heartleaf Bergenia produces spires of mid-spring blooms. But it is the foliage that predominates. Huge, glossy, leathery leaves are evergreen, taking on reddish tones in fall and winter. Preferring moist well-drained soil with plenty of humus-rich organic matter, it tolerates some drought once established. Plant in groups for best effect.

Bergenia 'Bressingham White':  white Bergenia, snowy white fading to pink

also commonly known as:  white Pigsqueak, white Elephant Ears
with:  all spring-flowering shrubs & bulbs
with:  Helleborus

BOLTONIA

I've never grown Boltonia, mainly because I'm not partial to white flowers. But if I wanted masses of aster-like flowers on a tall plant in late summer to early fall, this would probably be what I'd choose. Growing from 3-5 feet tall, it looks best planted in masses in well-drained, humusy soil in sun to light shade. Put it in a mid to rear border position and keep it moist.

Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank':  white Boltonia

with:  tall Aster, Helenium, Eupatorium purpureum (a larger 'Purpurea'), Physostegia virginiana 'Vivid'
with:  bright coloured Aster such as 'Alma Potschke'
combined with:  Physostegia 'Variegata', Cornus 'Elegantissima' & Angelica gigas

CALAMINTHA

Are you looking for a short-statured 18 inch tall mid-summer to fall blooming perennial with clouds of dainty flowers and aromatic leaves. Try the Lesser Calamint in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Another good edger in the border or rock garden.

Calamintha nepetoides:  white Beautiful Mint

combined with:  Gentiana 'Benichidori', Geranium 'Wargrave Pink' & Stokesia 'Blue Danube'

CAMPANULA

Short or tall, well-behaved or invasive, the Bellflowers have a number of white forms in addition to the mainly purple ones I tend to go for first. They prefer lots of organic matter mixed into their planting site. Good drainage and even moisture will encourage their best performance.

Campanula carpatica alba:  pure white Bellflower, white Carpathian Harebell

with:  Campanula carpatica (purple forms)

under:  wine-red Lilium, dwarf shrubs
beside:  Helictotrichon sempervirens, Stachys byzantina
in front of:  Hemerocallis, Chrysopsis 'Mariana'
with:  pink or yellow Sedum, Sedum spectabile 'Carmen'

with:  ferns, orangish-apricot tones i.e. Lychnis hybrids

in light shade with:  Digitalis
sandwiched between:  Alchemilla mollis (in front) & old roses (behind)

under:  well-spaced white birch or maples
with:  naturalized Digitalis & wild Aster
behind:  Geranium sanguineum, Primula polyanthes, Hosta 'Medio-Variegata'
in front of:  Delphinium, Lilium, Polemonium caeruleum

with:  Campanula pyramidalis (purple shades)

CHRYSANTHEMUM

Much reclassification has taken place in the genus Chrysanthemum. The references below use the original names with new names beneath for clarity. My references say that plants reclassified as Leucanthemum are the one which deer do not normally eat, and that butterflies are especially attracted to those reclassified as Tanacetum. Check out which ones that includes in the current names below.

Chrysanthemum parthenium:  Feverfew

now:  Tanacetum parthenium
where:  in dry shade
with:  bold flowers & foliage (as a filler)
with:  pink Phlox paniculata, Campanula poscharskyana, small Ornamental Grasses, Coreopsis grandiflora
in front of:  Heliopsis 'Gold Greenheart' & Regal Lilies
beside:  Astilbe 'Fire'

now:  Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum'
a perfect partner seen in the image above with a striped Ornamental Grass
with:  Gloriosa Daisy i.e. Rudbeckia hirta

Chrysanthemum x superbum:  Shasta Daisy

now:  Leucanthemum x superbum
with:  blue Delphinium, red Monarda, Achillea esp. 'Gold Plate', Achillea (red), Coreopsis lanceolata
with:  yellow Hemerocallis, Hemerocallis (peach tones), Dicentra, Malva moschata, Penstemon
with:  Salvia turkestanica, Sedum 'Autumn Joy', Sedum spectabile, Iris, Papaver, Gaillardia
with:  Coreopsis spp, Echinacea purpurea, Lychnis x haageana, Veronica (blue)
with:  Platycodon (lavender)
behind:  Centaurea montana
combined with:  Hemerocallis (peach) & Veronica (blue) or Platycodon grandiflorus (lavender)
not with:  pinks or blues i.e. Rosa rugosa, Iris sibirica, Dictamnus albus, Pyrethrum, Paeonia
not with:  Dianthus, Nepeta x faassenii as its stark white colour will break the flow of colour in the bed

Chrysanthemum x superbum:  double dwarf forms

now called:  Leucanthemum x superbum
the form above almost hugs the ground and blooms much earlier than taller forms of the same species
between:  Salvia 'East Friesland' & Tradescantia

Chrysanthemum x superbum 'Alaska'

now called:  Leucanthemum x superbum 'Alaska'
with:  Achillea 'Red Beauty'
with:  blue Delphinium, Achillea, esp. 'Gold Plate', red Monarda, Coreopsis lanceolata
with:  yellow Hemerocallis, Lychnis x haageana

Chrysanthemum x superbum 'Diener's Double'

now called:  Leucanthemum x superbum 'Diener's Double'
with:  blue Delphinium, yellow Hemerocallis, Achillea esp. 'Gold Plate', red Monarda
with:  Coreopsis lanceolata, Lychnis x haageana

CIMICIFUGA

I read recently that Bugbane needs 2 or 3 growing seasons to become established. Just when I was ready to give up on the self-sown seedlings I found and moved to the rear of a relatively new shady bed. The divided foliage looks lovely and continues to clump up nicely. Hopefully its lovely white spires of bloom will tower over the mid-border plants in front this year or next. According to the American Horticultural Society FLOWER FINDER these are among the very best and most maintenance-free perennials - almost completely pest and disease free. Well worth waiting for.

Cimicifuga spp.:  Bugbane, Black Cohosh, Snakeroot

now called:  Actaea
for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions

CORNUS

Grown for their flowers, foliage and/or coloured stems in winter, the Dogwods need sun to semi-shade and fertile, well-drained soil. The white-flowered forms below will do best in full sun.

Cornus florida:  Flowering Dogwood, showy white flowers

as:  specimen plant at edge of perennial borders, in shrub borders, beside a house
underplanted with:  shade-loving plants i.e. Hosta, ferns, wildflowers, ground covers, spring bulbs

use same companions as:  Cornus florida above

CRAMBE

A Baby's Breath look-alike, Sea Kale also acts as a "filler" in the garden. With a possible height to 6 feet and a spread as wide as 5 feet this is one perennial that demands space. Fragrant airy flowers appear in a cloud above huge, bold, dark green leaves. Best in full sun to very light shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil.

Crambe:  Colewort, Sea Kale

with:  white Delphinium
behind:  strong blues i.e. Aquilegia 'Hensol Harebell', Campanula 'Telham Beauty', Iris sibirica
combined with:  Delphinium 'Magic Fountains', Hemerocallis 'Hyperion' & Lilium 'Connecticut King' (buttercup yellow)

where:  large borders only

DELPHINIUM

The Delphiniums perform best in cool and moist climates. They are superb at the rear of a garden bed where the stakes required by the tallest forms will be hidden behind other plants as well as by the delphinium's own foliage. Perform this chore early before the flower spikes begin to bow over from lack of support.

Delphinium Pacific Giants 'Galahad':  pure white

with:  the raspberry red of Knautia macedonica
with:  Gypsophila paniculata in front for all-white effect

DENDRANTHEMA

Many perennials have been reclassified and gardeners have learned to adjust to their new names quickly. But most of us will forever ask for Chrysanthemums, commonly referred to as "Mums", the name we are most familiar with.

Dendranthema:  Garden Mum, white forms

with:  Eupatorium coelestinum

DIANTHUS

Taylor's Guide to NORTH AMERICA'S Favorite Plants tells us that "Dianthus is from the Greek dios meaning "god" and anthos, "flower" and thus is translated as "flower of the gods".

Dianthus arenarius:  Sand Pink

for partnership ideas follow the link to Edgers & Their Companions

where:  rock wall, rockery, trough, scree in well-drained soil

DICENTRA

A perennial favourite, the Bleeding Heart in its various forms adds a touch of grace to the garden. Stems arch over attractive foliage and heart-shaped blooms dangle at their ends. They prefer bright shade with rich and moist, humusy soil. It is the Dicentra eximia species that deer like least.

Dicentra eximia 'Alba':  white Fringed Bleeding Heart

for partnership ideas follow the link to Shade Perennials & Their Companions