The White Garden

 

  Lilium regale ‘Album’ June 2009

 

 Hydrangea quercifolia June 2009

 

Ornithogalum umbellatum May 2009

 

Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Multiplex’ April 2009

Magnolia stellata 'Centennial'  April 2009

The white garden at Sissinghurst Castle July 2009

White is clean & fresh like a laundry detergent commercial. White foliage stands out in shade. The flowers of many shade plants such as Aruncus dioicus  & Trillium ovatum are white. A white garden has a quiet, old-fashioned charm. White combines well with blue flowers & gray foliage. Try Hebe glaucophylla with Galtonia candicans or Ornithogalum umbellatum.  There is a very lovely little white garden among the demonstration gardens at Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco.  The most famous white garden is at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, England.  White is perhaps the most common color theme for gardens.  Adding some blue, pink &/or purple creates more interest.

Plant List

Trees: with white flowers, except as noted

Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’: white foliage

Cornus kousa chinensis (Korean Dogwood)

Davidia involucrata (Dove Tree)

Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia)

Sorbus cashmiriana (Mountain Ash): white fruit & flowers

Stewartia pseudocamellia

Styrax japonica or obassia (Snowdrop Tree)

Shrubs: with white flowers, except as noted

Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange)

Cistus x hybridus (White Rockrose)

Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’: white foliage

Hebe glaucophylla

Hebe recurva

Hebe salicifolia

Holodiscus discolor (Ocean Spray)

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)

Magnolia stellata 'Centennial'

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegatus’: white foliage & flowers

Philadelphus lewisii (Mock Orange)

Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Renkaku’ (Tree Peony)

Pieris japonica ‘Variegata’: white foliage & flowers

Rhaphiolepis umbellata (Yeddo Hawthorne)

Ribes sanguineum ‘White Icicle’

Rosa rugosa ‘Blanc Double de Coubert’
Spiraea prunifolia (Bridalwreath) Spiraea trilobata 'Fairy Queen', Spiraea x vanhouttei

Viburnum plicatum tomentosum (Doublefile Viburnum)

Weigela florida ‘Variegata’: white foliage & pink flowers

Perennials: with white flowers, except as noted

Acorus gramineus ‘Variegatus’ (Sweet Flag): white foliage

Aruncus dioicus or aethusifolius (Goat’s Beard)

Astilbe x arendsii ‘Deutschland’ (Ostrich Plume)

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost': white foliage

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ (Bleeding Heart)

Cimicifuga racemosa (Bugbane)

Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ (Coneflower)

Erythronium oregonum (Fawn Lily)

Galtonia candicans (Summer Hyacinth)

Lilium regale ‘Album’ (Regal Lily)

Narcissus ‘Mt Hood’ or ‘Thalia’ (Daffodil)

Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem)

Paeonia ‘Krinkled White’

Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy)

Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Multiplex’ (Bloodroot)

Smilacina racemosa (False Solomon's Seal)

Tellima grandiflora (Fringe Cup)

Trillium ovatum (Western White Trillium)

Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily)

Groundcovers & Trailers

Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’ (Bishop’s Weed): white foliage

Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer): white foliage & flowers

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’: white foliage

Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft): white flowers

Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’: white foliage & flowers

Sedum spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’: white foliage & yellow flowers