Hi GPODers,

This is your editor, Joseph. GPOD submissions are very slow this time of year, with most of us settling in to wait out the winter, so I’m taking a moment today to share some of my favorite white flowers.

White flowers are versatile in the garden, going with every other color and looking elegant and sophisticated when grown together. And, of course, they are wonderful for brightening shady areas and for gardens mostly viewed in the low light of the evening.

Anemone nemorosa ‘Vestal’ (Zones 5–8) is a little anemone that loves shade, slowly spreading by rhizomes and blooming heavily in the spring with these elegant double white flowers.

When it comes to white flowers, it’s hard to beat the great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum, Zones 3–8), which is native to wooded areas across much of the eastern half of North America. The big white flowers are an iconic symbol of spring and thrive happily in a shaded garden.

These peonies (Paeonia hybrid, Zones 3–8) aren’t quite pure white, but they are incredibly beautiful. Peonies of any color are wonderful, but whites are hard to beat.

Daffodils are usually yellow, but I think I like the white forms even better. This is the variety ‘Thalia’ (Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Zones 3–8), which is pretty hard to beat for vigor, fragrance, and sheer profusion of elegant white flowers.

Moon flowers (Ipomoea alba, Zones 10–12 or as an annual) grow and look like an oversize morning glory, but the huge, powerfully fragrant flowers open in the evenings to attract the moths that pollinate them. I grew moon flowers several years ago on my back deck, and they made sitting out there in the evening magical.

Anemone coronaria (Zones 7–10 or as a tender bulb) is a great spring-blooming bulb. The blues and reds are striking, but they look extra intense mixed with some pure whites.

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9) is native to the southeastern United States and makes summertime magic with its huge spikes of white flowers.

I love crocuses, but so do squirrels, so I grew these white crocus (Crocus ‘Joan of Arc’, Zones 3–8) in a big pot covered with a thick layer of sharp-edge gravel to discourage their digging.

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus, annual) are one of my favorite annuals. I love the white form of the cupcake variety, which makes these cool bowls of fused petals.

What are your favorite white flowers? Send them in to the GPOD! We’d love to see.

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