White flowers offer a classic serenity that can work for any occasion, regardless of the species. However, just as there are different species of white blossom, there are different meanings for white flowers.
We’ve gathered 65 types of white flowers to demonstrate the huge variation of cultivars available. These flowers will range from wildflowers to exotics and tropicals that you can grow indoors or out. Some will be drought-tolerant and easy maintenance, while others have demanding needs.
Types of White Flowers
After browsing through this list of 64 types of white flowers, check out the frequently asked questions section. Finally, we’ll cover some cultural questions about when white flowers are appropriate and when they’re considered bad luck.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis flowers are a tropical species grown from bulbs, found worldwide – minus Antarctica. This luscious plant produces two to five flowers that bloom for up to six weeks.
This is a popular plant to grow due to its low maintenance and beauty. Expect your plants to reach up to 10″ in a very sunny and hot spot, even during droughts.
Anemone
Anemone – aka windflowers – is a tuberous wildflower that grows from April to June. These plants need well-drained, moist soil and partial shade for proper growth.
Growing up to 5″ to 8″, this species has multiple cultivars in other colors besides white. And this delicate blossom belongs to the buttercup family – Ranunculaceae.
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria is a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow species that are excellent for beginners. This perennial can look stunning in any garden or for cut arrangements.
Also known as the Peruvian lily, princess lily, parrot, and Lily of the Incans, this plant requires lots of sunlight. And due to the exotic blooms, they’ll attract lots of pollinators.
Bacopa
Bacopa is a dainty perennial that grows to heights of 8″ to 12″ between May and October. These flowers can handle part sun or shade with ordinary soil, making them easy to grow.
For a stunning white Bacopa variant, choose Blizzard, which produces large clusters of white blooms. Novasnow forms the largest white flowers – ½” while Everwhite continuously blooms.
Begonia
Who doesn’t love Begonias, including the goat on Mrs. Doubtfire (poor Sally Fields)? This perennial plant forms large double bloom flowers that are stunning to view.
There are more than 2,000 variations, with some preferring to grow indoors while others bloom throughout summer when planted outdoors.
Baby’s Breath
Baby’s Breath – Gypsophila – is a lovely ornamental plant commonly used as filler in cut floral arrangements and bouquets.
You can choose from over 100 species – perennial or annual – in various growth patterns, from crawling vines to upright branching of slender stems with dainty five-petaled flowers.
Bouvardia
Bouvardia is immediately identifiable by sight due to the unique star-shaped flowers. These tubular species come in many colors, although white is the fav for ornamental purposes.
With over 49 species, the herbaceous clusters of flowers are also known as the Hummingbird flower and can transform your garden into feeding grounds for pollinators.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes are semi-evergreen to a deciduous shrub that can branch out to 10 feet wide and tall. Although a beauty to view, some places consider this shrub an invasive weed.
The most common reason for planting this plant is to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects and enjoy long blooms throughout summer – June to October.
Camellia
Camellia – scientifically known as Camellia japonica – are evergreen shrubs that produce blooms with bold yellow centers that catch the attention of many pollinators.
The American Camellia Society has over 2,300 cultivars on record, ranking as one of the best flowering shrubs. Many people love to use this species for winter flowers due to the growth period between October to May (fall to spring).
Calla Lily
Nothing says elegant beauty like the Cally Lily. This sleek, refined bloom is easy to identify by the sight of the heart-shaped leaves.
These easy-to-grow flowers are suitable for container plantings, perennial gardens, or cut gardens. In addition, white Calla Lilies are a favorite for wedding florals.
Carnation
Carnations are a hugely popular ornamental plant with intricate flimsy petals that overlap for a full effect. These plants require direct sunlight and constant watering, making them demanding.
White carnations are a favorite to dye for different occasions, like Saint Patrick’s Day or Easter pastels. This flower has Christian religious symbolism and can represent distinction, love, and fascination.
Clematis
Clematis flowers represent cleverness and are one of the showiest flowers in the world. However, these fast-growing climbing vines can get out of hand if not properly attended.
These incredible blooms symbolize wisdom, mental acuity, travel, mischief, and aspiration. With over 300 species, common nicknames include climbing queen, old man’s beard, devil’s darning needle, pepper vine, and virgin’s bower.
Columbine
Columbine – scientifically labeled Aquilegia (Latin for eagle) – are a beneficial and understated flower. These delicate blooms reach three feet tall and attract pollinators, mainly hummingbirds.
Granny’s Bonnet – the state flower of Colorado – consists of 60 to 70 perennial variations with spurred petals that resemble an eagle claw. The name Columbine comes from the Latin word, translating to dove. And it can represent taking risks, tenacity, endurance, aspiration, and the Fool’s card.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums – mums – are a plentiful perennial bloom with over 20,000 variations. These flowers can mean devoted love, happiness, loyalty, and longevity.
The birth flower for November, this flower has full blossoms that can look like flat discs or round pom-poms with flat, curled, spidery, or needle-like petals. White mums can make teas or natural flavors. And potted mums are one of the best indoor plants for better air quality.
Corn Marigold
Glebionis segetum – translated to corn marigolds or sometimes corn daisies – is one of the most favored and versatile flowers worldwide.
This strain of marigold can get up to 31″ in height and create a stunning display with a bold yellow center and ombre petals that turn from a sunny yellow to a pale white.
Cosmos
Cosmos – and its 40 species – belong to the Asteraceae family, beloved for its similarity to astrological stars. This genus has symmetrical petals, which influences meanings associated with it.
This flower has multiple symbolisms – harmony, order, tranquility, balance, love, peace, modesty, joy, innocence, and beauty.
Candytuft
Candytuft – Iberis – features a unique flower that makes it immediately identifiable by look. This genus includes around 50 species and belongs to the Brassicaceae family.
Although these low-growing flowers can represent indifference, beauty, and sweetness, they are not as sweet and nice as you would think. Rather, they are poisonous.
Dictamnus
Scientifically named Cytisus x praecox, the Dictamnus flower has an interesting look and name – Gas Plant. These aromatic perennials offer a lemon scent and upright, loose spires of delicate petals.
These flowers bloom from late spring throughout early summer, with little maintenance or care needs. They do best in well-drained soil with bright sun exposure.
Delphinium Centurion
Delphinium – the same genus – belongs to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family and includes over 350 species. These cottage-style, informal flowers – nicknamed Queen of the Border – are a fantastic choice for border plants and pollinator attractants.
These perennials can be single or double petals and require little maintenance, other than being planted in fall and requiring plenty of sunlight.
Daisy
Daisies are one of the easiest flowers to identify by appearance worldwide. The dainty white petals and bright yellow center give these flowers an understated elegance.
Easy to grow and maintain, Daisies need well-drained soil and partial shade. This flower has multiple meanings – purity, innocence, true love, new beginnings, and the sender knows how to keep a secret.
Daffodils
Daffodils – Narcissus – are unique flowers with a yellow trumpet-shaped center. The delicate stems can bend and break in the wind, so they must be buried deep below the soil.
The easy maintenance and reseeding abilities make this a popular wildflower growing along roadsides, fences, and trees. The March birth flower, Daffodils, are the first blooms to pop out of the snow to say winter is over.
Dahlias
The Dahlia is a round flower with multiple layers of petals that create a textured, dimensional bloom. It’s the national flower of Mexico, making it a great flower for diversity.
This flower is symbolic of being pure, focused, graceful under pressure, unique in a crowd, commitment, a balance between relaxation and adventure, and a positive life change.
Dendrobium Orchid
Orchids are a beloved indoor flower, and the Dendrobium genus is the largest species, compiled of almost 2,000 variations. The Dendrobium is a detoxing plant with a 12″ to 18″ stem and 1″ to 2″ wide satiny flowers.
This flower can grow from a half foot up to four feet tall and wide in zones 9 through 12 in acidic, well-draining, moist soil and partial sun.
Dianthus
Dianthus caryophyllus – the divine flower – has associations with divinity and the flower of the gods. Also known as the Carnation, these flowers have four thin petals with serrated edges and a slender, long stalk.
You can grow Carnations in well-draining, moist soil in zones 3 to 10, in partial shade to full sun. Carnations in white are symbolic of good luck and purity.
Dogwood
Dogwood – Cornus florida – flowers are a deceiving bunch. Technically, the Dogwood is a tree. It produces luscious giant white blooms for two to four weeks during spring. Fall turns the foliage a deep vibrant red.
Although native to America, the deciduous Dogwood grows worldwide in zones 5 through 9 in partial shade to full sun.
Easter Lily
Easter Lily – Lilium longiflorum – has multiple religious symbolism and is often called white-robed apostles of hope to represent the purity of Christ, hope, and rebirth.
The trumpet shape symbolizes the alert sent when Jesus rose from the dead. While the method of growth – as bulbs underground for up to three years before emerging – represents his resurrection.
Fan Flower
Fan Flower, also known by its scientific name Scaevola aemula or Scaevola for short, is a small perennial or annual shrub. It’s chosen for its non-stop growth of fan-shaped blooms that bloom from the early days of summer through the first frost.
At maturity, these shrubs can reach widths of one to two feet with a height between nine and 18″ in zones 10 through 11.
Foxgloves
Foxgloves – Digitalis purpurea – produce tubular flowers that grow upside down. You can enjoy these unique blooms at the end of summer before everything starts to die off during autumn.
Although beautiful to look at with their speckled bell-shaped petals, these plants are dangerous for those with heart conditions. The foxglove flower’s meaning is insincerity, ambition, magic, pride, productivity, intuition, creativity, cooperation, confidence, and energy.
Gardenia
Gardenias offer a contrast of light on dark with vibrant pale white flowers against dark leaves, with a rich fragrance. You often see these flowers included in wedding bouquets, and interestingly enough, these blooms are members of the coffee family.
Meanings for the Gardenia flower include love, refinement, beauty, and purity. White Gardenias are also a popular Mother’s Day gift for those who’ve passed away..
Hellebores
Hellebores – the Christmas rose – got its nickname due to its eight-week growth period – the longest of all blooming flowers – of December through January. This growing season makes this a perfect flower for cold weather.
These plants can get up to 20″ tall at full maturity, growing in zones 4 through 8 in full sun to partial shade. You can also use Hellebores for cut arrangements.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus plants are a hardy herbaceous species that produces impressive blooms that can get up to the size of a dinner plate. These dramatic flowers are also known as the rose of Sharon or rose mallow and grow in warm temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates.
Part of the Malvaceae (mallow) family consisting of nearly 300 variations, Hibiscus can range from a few feet up to larger trees reaching 15 feet. The flower can be dinner-plate, funnel, or trumpet-shaped.
Hosta
The Hosta genus contains almost 30 perennial species belonging to the Asparagaceae family. It produces trumpet-shaped flowers that attract bees and sometimes hummingbirds.
These flowers are symbolic of friendship and devotion. Hosta was once called the Plantain Lily for its resemblance to Plantago major’s plantain weed and fell into the Liliaceae family.
Hyacinth
Hyacinths are elegant and fragrant clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom throughout spring. Part of the Asparagaceae family, the name Hyacinth comes from a Greek myth about the god of the west wind – Zephyr, who killed Kyakinthos in a fit of jealous rage over Apollo.
White Hyacinths are symbolic of prayers for someone or loveliness. The unique aroma of each flower makes Hyacinths a popular ingredient in perfumes. And the poisonous bulbs contain oxalic acid that can remove rust.
Hydrangea Arborescens Incrediball
As the name implies, Hydrangea flowers – over 600 cultivars – grow close together to form incredible balls of blooms. These evergreen or deciduous beauties are hardy enough for placement anywhere.
If you’re looking for a fragrant, complex flower to plant in your garden to attract pollinators and use for cut arrangements, you’re sure to enjoy the low maintenance needs. White hydrangeas – snowball bushes – are symbolic of heartfelt emotion and gratitude and a sign of an apology.
Iris
Irises are a rugged, June-blooming flower that comes in a huge range of colors and brilliant patterns named for Greek goddess Iris – messenger to the Gods – that rode rainbows.
With over 300 species, you have a massive selection of six-petaled flowers – three falls (outer petals hanging) and three standards (upright inner petals) that grow up to 3′ tall. White Irises symbolize wisdom, hope, faith, innocence, and purity.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a small starflower with a heady fragrance that makes it a popular bloom for perfumes, hair accessories, and bouquets.
These flowers symbolize good luck, beauty, love, and sensuality. They have deep cultural ties in Indonesia and the Phillippines, where they are a national symbol.
Lobelia
Lobelia is a beautiful, beneficial, and deeply symbolic flowering herb of over 415 species with multiple medicinal purposes for treating bronchitis, congestion, and asthma.
The true meaning of this flower varies from love, beauty, prosperity, good luck, devotion, and purity to bad feelings of hostility. Lobelia can be tender and hardy, perennial, or annual. Other names include vomit weed, edging lobelia, cardinal flower, and asthma weed.
Lotus
Lotus flowers are aquatic perennials symbolically significant in Buddhism and Asian culture. The plant and roots grow buried in deep mud, but the flower and leaves grow on top of the water – from dirty water grow a perfect, beautiful flower.
Many cultures – especially eastern – consider the Lotus a symbol of enlightenment, rebirth, purity, and self-regeneration. On the other hand, Buddhists believe the way the Lotus grows represents the evolution of a person as they become reincarnated through thousands of lifetimes to reach nirvana.
Lupine
Lupine – Lupinus – are tall spike cones of clustered flowering legumes that thrive in moist, cool conditions and full sun in zones 3 through 9. They share a similar look to sweet peas, although with darker leaves.
There are hundreds of lupines. The name came from the Latin lupus, meaning wolf, and symbolizes the moon, admiration, happiness, a positive outlook, voraciousness, a hunger for life, and new opportunities.
Magnolia
Two things make magnolia famous – their huge petals and their heady fragrance. These trees are impressive, with waxy green leaves and heights up to 70 feet. But when their white flowers emerge, it’s a sight to behold.
The flowers are messy, shedding leaves and flowers throughout the year. Magnolias can mean harmony, a love for nature, the co-existence of all life, immortality, perseverance, and dignity. The Magnolia Society International classifies over 200 species.
Marigold
Marigolds have a strong peppery scent that repels insects and some people. These popular annuals share a similar layered head full of ruffled petals to carnations and bloom throughout summer in full sun.
Moonflowers
Moonflowers grow on vines and require support to produce their large white trumpet flowers each night as the moon shines on them. Other names for this perennial include thorn apple, devil’s trumpet, and jimsonweed.Moonflowers grow on vines and require support to produce their large white trumpet flowers each night as the moon shines on them. Other names for this perennial include thorn apple, devil’s trumpet, and jimsonweed.
Nemesia
Nemesia has around 70 species of sub-shrubs, perennials, and annuals of sweet-smelling little flowers that are long-lasting. These flowers are symbolic of friendship. Up close, it resembles Orchids with a spur and two lips.
Petunia
Petunias are most loved for their many colors, with white being the most popular. Although it may be odd to believe, this flower is a relative of potatoes. It experiences profuse blossoms starting in early summer.
Peony
Peonies experience growth towards the end of spring and make great low borders. Most of these perennials are edible and come back each year. These blooms produce heavy, fragrant heads of thin, delicate overlapping petals. It’s symbolic of romantic love, honor, wealth, shame, beauty, and bashfulness.
Primrose
Primrose is a high-maintenance flower with demanding foliage and petals. These dainty goblet-shaped blooms can grow up to two feet tall and produce heavy fragrances. However, these flowers can spread rapidly, requiring care to avoid overpopulating.
Ranunculus
Ranunculus flowers are many small, thin petals stacked up over each other. These flowers are popular for ornamentals and as cut flowers with an expectancy of one to two weeks. In addition, they’re popular for weddings for their symbolism of attractiveness and radiant charm.
Rose
Roses have a massive family of over 2,000 members occurring from hundreds of years. Old rose species that existed before the tea rose in 1867 are more fragrant and have a complicated petal structure and disease resistance. Modern roses have more colors and bloom all season.
Scabiosa
Scabiosa is often called pin cushions due to the small frilly flowers and stems with rounded stamens that look like pins. These flowers have rich nectar that is attractive to butterflies. Part of the honeysuckle family, the name translates to tragic love.
Silverbush
Silverbush gets its name because the foliage can sometimes turn silver with white trumpet flowers. They only bloom from spring to summer and require lots of light. Other names include Bush Morning Glory, Shrubby Bindweed, and Silvery Bindweed.
Snapdragon
Snapdragons get their interesting name from the way they look when you squeeze it – a dragon. These tall classy flowers are symbolic of strength and grace but also deviousness. The leaves and flowers have medicinal purposes and can be summer – angel – or common.
Snow Bunting
Snow Bunting flowers are cold and shade tolerant flowers. This perennial’s scientific name Crocus chrysanthus means saffron. The creamy white bowl-shaped petals surround bold yellow stamens to create elegant blooms.
Snowdrop
Snowdrops – Galanthus – are one of only a few flowers that come in only one color – white. The incredible thing about these blooms is they look like three white teardrops extending off a green stem. These flowers are symbolic of purity and home and produce a honey smell.
Trumpet Flowers
Trumpet flowers – Datura – have similarities to nightshade and mandrakes. The trumpet-shaped flowers drooping from climbing vines are attractants to hummingbirds and butterflies. This flower is symbolic for purity and can boost fortune and luck and provide protection.
Tuberose
Tuberose – Polianthes tuberosa – is a night-blooming flower that reaches three feet. They produce an intense, potent fragrance, making them commonly associated with unexpectedly intense feelings for someone, obsession for another, lust, attraction, or that you’re having a hard time letting go of someone.
Tuberose – Polianthes tuberosa – is a night-blooming flower that reaches three feet. They produce an intense, potent fragrance, making them commonly associated with unexpectedly fierce feelings for someone, obsession for another, lust, attraction, or that you’re having a hard time letting go of someone.
Tulips
Tulips are easily identifiable by the petal’s cup shape. It comes in every color with white being the most graceful. This flower is symbolic of charity, indulgence, prosperity, neglected or forgotten love, royalty, undying passionate love, and perfect enduring love.
Vinca
Vinca – often called Periwinkle – is a small and adorable white flower that grows in early spring. These drought-tolerant plants fast-grow, making them great when you need ground covering that doesn’t require frequent watering.
Water Lily
Water Lilies come in a huge range of vivid colors that grow in water – a pool or a pond. You can use a white water lily to mean hope, innocence, purity, rebirth, and peace.
Walking Iris
Walking Irises – Neomarica gracilis – have white petals with a blue, brown, or violet center. You have to catch this flower to enjoy its beautiful flower at the right time. Unfortunately, it only blooms for one day! Once it disappears, smaller plants emerge.
Wisteria
Wisteria – Wisteria Sinensis – has a uniquely attractive aroma and is chosen for its climbs. But without the right repeated pruning, the exotic petals won’t bloom properly. It’s demanding – and invasive – but absolutely beautiful and well worth the work.
Wild Chervil
Wild Chervil – Anthriscus sylvestris – also known as cow parsley or French parsley, is a textured herb that adds a simple look to your garden. When cut, it can work as a filler for cut florals.
White Bouvardia
There are around 50 species of Bouvardia, ranging from one to four feet tall. These flowers symbolize a zest for life, inspired by this showy flower’s wild growth in the southwest US. They belong to the Madder family, with coffee, madder, and gardenia.
White Gloria
White Gloria, aka Astilbes – are a perennial that forms cones of fluffy white flowers on narrow brown stems. Also called False Goat’s Beard, these low-maintenance flowers bring in moths, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This flower represents patience.
Yucca Filamentosa
When Yuccas bloom, they form spikes of big white flowers through summer and fall. These blooms are attractive to birds, but you should plant them out of reach of walkways and places where they can be touched. The leaves are stiff and pointy.
Yarrow
Yarrows are many clusters of tiny white flowers on long thin stems. The gray tint to the green foliage adds an extra layer of depth to the fern-like leaves. But be wary when planting, as it can become invasive due to quick spreading.
Types of White Flowers FAQ
Many people have a few questions about white flowers, now that you know the many different types.
What Is the Meaning and Symbolism of White Flowers?
White flowers can have multiple symbols. One meaning symbolic to the color in various cultures is purity and innocence.
White can also represent harmony, beauty, reverence, devotion, humility, optimism, elegance, modesty, new beginnings, farewells, and spirituality. It’s also significant in different religions and faiths, linked to the Pope and Virgin Mary.
Are White Flowers a Symbol of Death?
Many cultures throughout Asia, like Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China, consider white flowers a bad omen linked with grief and death.
Are White Flowers Unlucky?
Western cultures believe that white flowers are unlucky because they bring death. This belief could stem from the use of white flowers at funerals.
Which White Flowers Do Butterflies Like?
Numerous white flowers attract butterflies, including:
- Butterfly Bush
- Marigolds
- Buttonbush
- Yarrow
- Mallow
- Snapdragon
- Trumpet flowers
Which White Flowers Do Hummingbirds Like?
Hummingbirds are more attracted to bright colors than cool ultra-violet spectrum like white. But there are some species of flowers that Hummingbirds prefer, regardless of color, like:
- Trumpet Vine
- Columbine
- Phlox
- Bouvardia
- Butterfly Bush
- Hosta
Which Trees Have White Flowers?
Multiple trees bloom with glorious white flowers, like Magnolias, Dogwood, Jasmine,
Conclusion
White flowers are symbolic of innocence, purity, and love. Almost every flower comes in a white variation, although very few come in only white. We’ve given you some background and facts about 65 types of white flowers. Many flowers can have additional meanings beyond what the color white signifies.