White Garden Plants

• White flower gardens make a beautiful alternative to the more common colored blooms. ULTRA.F/Photodisc/Getty Images

  White gardens work well in areas with varied light. Some plants, such as Lily of the Valley, do best shaded from direct sunlight, while others thrive in full sun. Without the variety of colors found in standard gardens, the white garden must rely on the texture and appearance of the plants to create interest. Add silver-toned foliage such as Lamb's Ear or Dusty Miller to pull the flowers and foliage together. White birch trees blend well with a white blossom garden, as do white lilac bushes, which bloom early in the spring with heavily fragrant clusters of flowers.

Peace Lily

• The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is a perennial ornamental that is white with a light fragrance. The flower sheath and center spike have a long stalk with vivid green leaves at the base. This lily prefers well-drained and rich soil with a reprieve from the hottest hours of sun. Hardy and robust, the lily seems near-immune to disease, though the roots don't respond well to over-watering which can cause root rot. The Peace Lily is a favorite in white-themed gardens and can bloom more than once a year. Pale colored leaves are a sign that the plant is getting too much light.

Lily Of The Valley

• Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a perennial plant that blooms with small, fragrant white bell-like flowers on a short stalk surrounded by two medium green tapered leaves. The plant spreads via rhizomes, an underground system of stems. Thriving in moist rich soil, the Lily of the Valley prefers partial shade and becomes prolific ground cover given the right conditions. Lily of the Valley is a poisonous plant, best kept away from children's gardens and areas where animals frequent. It is the national flower of Finland.

Shasta Daisy

• The Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum) is a perennial plant. The flower reflects the classic daisy look with a deep yellow center surrounded by sparkling white slender petals. They thrive in all parts of the United States, preferring full sun. The Shasta Daisy does well as a ground cover and for paths and walkways. A hardy plant, the Shasta Daisy is a good choice for beginner gardeners; they grow rapidly in well-drained soil that is enriched with a good organic mix. Deadheading, or removing the blooms as they begin to die, leads to more rapid blossoming.

White Snapdragon

• The Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) is sturdy enough to border pathways, thrives in full sun to semi-shade, and will blossom prolifically, especially if deadheaded. The dragon-like flowers make them a favorite in a child's garden. The flowers open from the bottom of the stalk so that as the bottom is in full bloom, with the blossoms at the top just beginning to open. Snapdragon flowers emit a spicy, exotic scent. They are planted early in the season and bloom early. Snapdragons blooms last many days and work well in a cut-flower bouquet.

Foliage

• Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina) suit their folk name; the resemblance to a lamb's ear is clear with this favorite perennial ground cover. Lamb's Ears grow prolifically, covering the desired area with a pale to silver fuzzy leaf, long in shape, and well-suited to any white garden. Caladiums (Caladium bicolor) have smooth or fancy-leafed varieties. The pale green-to-white caladiums come in both the long-leafed and the heart-leafed types. Licorice plants (Helichrysum) do well in white gardens, their elongated leaves shaded from dusty green to palest gray. As with most light-leafed plants, the licorice foliage does best in full sun.