List of White Flowers

During the spring, summer and autumn, our native and introduced white flower species burst forth into blossom. Some prefer the cool moist microclimate of a woodland, while others fare best in dry soils with maximum daylight. Other species are not that picky -- as long as they receive at least partial sun and adequate moisture, they seem capable of thriving almost anywhere.

Adam's needle (Yucca filamentosa), which is sometimes referred to as Spanish bayonets, is a native member of the agave family. A low-growing perennial evergreen shrub, the plant grows across much of the eastern half of the United States, as far west as Texas and as far north as Michigan's Upper Peninsula. During it's flowering cycle, the plant's bell-shaped flowers emerge laterally in clusters, on short stems attached to a central flower spike that may reach 12 feet in height. The rich sweet nectar is a favored food source for hummingbirds and wild bees.

The ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), also known as whiteweed, is an introduced species. A member of the aster family, the bright white petal rays and yellow center disc may be as much as 2 inches across. Growing to a maximum height of 3 feet, the flowers contrast boldly against its lobed, dark-green leaves. Since arriving on the shores of North America, the plant has spread across the entire continental U.S. and Canada. According to the USDA plant profile data, this hardy perennial has been found growing well above the Arctic Circle.

White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is a native white flower which blooms in the early spring. Found in the moist humus-rich soils in and around mature stands of hardwoods, the lacy, ruffled petals of this plant readily stand out against the backdrop of its deep-green, heavily-veined leaves. When fully emerged, a white trillium will stand about 18 inches high. This plant is extremely delicate and may be fatally damaged if even a single leaf is carelessly knocked off or intentionally removed. White trillium is listed as endangered in Maine and vulnerable in New York.

The snowy-white flower stalks of the white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) constitute a familiar sight in planted wildflower meadows and long roadsides. This native aster prefers the full sun and dry soils often found in those venues. Growing to maximum height of about 3 feet, the plants are native to most of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and Canada. A single plant may produce as many has 100 individual flower heads, each with bright white petals and a yellow center disc.