Top white flowering plants for Sydney gardens

White flowers work with any colour scheme and have wide appeal in a garden. Concentrating on a favourite colour is a great way to personalise a garden while creating a theme to unify plantings. One of the most famous white gardens is at Sissinghurst, an estate in the UK. It was created by Vita Sackville West when she designed and planted a garden featuring white flowering plants and silver foliage. This garden, which is maintained and open to the public by the National Trust, has helped popularise white gardens across the world. It is one of the most visited gardens in the world.

A quick way to add your favourite colour is with white varieties of annuals including petunias (spring, summer and autumn) and primulas, pansies, violas (autumn, winter and spring). Bulbs including white varieties of tulips and hyacinth bring highlights of spring colour to gardens. Use white in key spots in the garden or in a container as a colour accent. Pots of colour are also a good way to introduce a colour theme to gardens for a special event such as a wedding.

For longer lasting colour, include flowering perennials, climbers, shrubs and trees (see a list below to get you started). Once a few key plants are selected, look for other varieties to extend your collection and the timing of flowers. Also include plants that tone well with white including pastels and shades of green.

White Flowering Plants Selection

There are many white-flowering plant varieties available for purchase at your local Flower Power Garden Centre. Here are a few favourites to suit every garden.

White Flowering Shrubs

• Azaleas (white varieties including ‘Alba Magna’). Click to shop white azaleas.
• Bottlebrush (Callistemon ‘Wilderness White’ or ‘Snow Burst’). Click to shop white bottlebrush.
• Camellias (sasanqua and japonica). Click to shop white sasanqua camellias or white japonica camellias.
• Daisies, including Marguerite daisy (such as Argyranthemum ‘Summit White’) and African daisy (Osteospermum ‘Serenity White’). Click to shop white daisies.
• Gardenia ‘Florida’ (and other varieties). Click to shop white gardenias.
• Hebe. Click to shop white hebes.
• Hydrangeas (white varieties don’t change colour in response to soil pH). Click to shop white hydrangeas.
• Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis - this is a particularly good hedging or seaside plant). Click to shop white Indian hawthorn.
• Lavender - while most know this as a purple or blue flower, there are some lovely white varieties. Click to shop white lavender.
• Roses (‘Iceberg’ is perhaps best known). Click to shop white roses.
• Viburnum. Click to shop. 

White Flowering Groundcover Plants

• Bacopa (including varieties ‘Snowtopia’, ‘Megacopa White’, ‘Colossal White’). Click to shop white bacopa.
• Convolvulus cneorum. Click to shop. 
• Liriope. Click to shop all liriope. 

Clockwise from top left: Azaleas, gardenias, roses, hydrangeas and daisies are popular white flowering garden plants.

White Flowering Annual Plants

• Lobelia. Click to shop white lobelia.
• Paper daisies (Rhodanthe). Click to shop. 
• Pansies. Click to shop white pansies.
• Petunias. Click to shop white petunias.
• Primulas. Click to shop all primulas.

White Flowering Perennial Plants

• Agapanthus. Click to shop white agapanthus. 
• Dahlias. Click to shop white dahlias.
• Dietes. Click to shop all dietes.
• Hellebore (including ‘Jacob’s Royal’ and ‘Molly’s White’). Click to shop white hellebores. Note: Hellebores may be toxic to pets and humans if ingested.
• Hosta (white flowers and variegated leaves). Click to shop white hosta.
• Iris. Click to shop white iris.

Clockwise from top left: Agapanthus, dietes, petunias, hellebores and pansies all make beautiful additions to a white-themed garden.

White Flowering Climbing Plants

• Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum). Click to shop.
• Pandorea ‘Lady Di’. Click to shop. 
• Climbing roses (white banksia rose). Click to shop. 
• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). Click to shop. 
• Wisteria. Click to shop white wisteria.

White Flowering Trees

• Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Click to shop white crepe myrtle.
• Crab apple (Malus floribunda). Click to shop all crab apples.
• Eucalyptus (including dwarf white varieties). Click to shop white eucalyptus and gum trees.
• Frangipani. Click to shop white frangipanis. 
• Magnolia. Click to shop white magnolias.
• Pear. Click to shop all ornamental pears.
• Prunus. Click to shop white flowering prunus.

Clockwise from top left: Frangipanis, pear blossoms, eucalyptus varieties, crepe myrtles, magnolias and star jasmine offer striking white flowers - and, in many cases, iconic scents to go with them!

White Flowering Indoor Plants

• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum). Click to shop. 
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum). Click to shop.