How to create a white garden
Perhaps the most elegant garden design of all, the white garden is created from a dreamy palette of greens, silver, white and grey. Find out how to create this quintessential English look in your own garden.
Simplicity and serenity.
It’s easy to see why the white garden is such a perennially popular garden design. It always looks sophisticated, and a white garden is uniquely calming and restful to be in. With their minimalist approach and absence of vibrant, energetic colours, white gardens exude a sense of tranquillity, providing you with a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The simplicity of the white garden style makes it relatively easy to create.
Defining features of a white garden.
A colour palette of white, silver, grey and shades of green creates a sense of harmony in the garden. But with this monochrome palette, it’s important to include strong structure and texture to keep things interesting. Foliage with a variety of leaf shapes and sizes will create visual interest and add depth to the garden.
White gardens have a particular luminosity, especially at dusk or in moonlight when the white flowers and silver leaves amplify available light and appear to glow.
Our white garden favourites.
White perennials
There’s a world of white flowering perennials to choose from. Hellebores, phlox, monarda, astrantia, and astilbe are just a few that will provide flowers from April to October.
White annuals
Surfinas, cosmos, and alyssum are great in sunny positions and lobelia, Impatiens and fuchsias thrive in sun or shade. Plant underneath topiary in pots for real elegance.
Hydrangea paniculata
Large blooms add structure and volume. After flowering the dried heads can be cut and displayed indoors, or left on the plant for winter interest, they look beautiful covered in frost.
Erigeron karvinskianus
A superb plant which flowers from May through to October producing mounds of white/blush flowers. Hardy and comes back every year. Thrives on neglect and spreads, making it great value for money.
Hebe topiaria
A nice neat evergreen shrub forming mounds of silvery green leaves. Plant in sun or shade and it bears white flowers during early summer. Great for winter interest and repeating along the front of a border.
Betula jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch)
Single or multi-stemmed white Birch looks beautiful all year round, will grow in sun or shade, and can be underplanted with other flowering plants.
White roses
Climbing and rambling varieties will help soften sunny walls. Shrub roses are superb in pots, and David Austin varieties are some of the best for reliable blooms.
Hosta “Francee”
Perfect for sun or shade with crisp foliage colour throughout the season. Beautiful in pots and very low maintenance, but watch out for slugs.
White garden tips
Choose a wide variety of white flowering plants.
Use a mix of foliage with silver and variegated leaves.
Include flowers tinged with pink, cream or other colours for depth.
Add texture with grasses and other interesting foliage shapes.
Repeat plants to give balance and continuity.
Use varying heights and climbers up walls and trellises.
Add some evergreens for year-round interest.
Don’t overlook shady areas, white flowers will really lift a dark corner.
Still got questions?
We’re always happy to help. If you would like advice on choosing plants for your garden, contact us or pop into the nursery for a chat with one of our experts.
