10 Great Shrubs That Bloom With White Flowers

Here are 10 great choices if you are considering white shrubs for your landscape. If your soil does not have the acidity preferred by viburnums, a yearly feeding with an acid-enhanced fertilizer will improve its flowering. Mulching the base of the shrub with pine needles can also improve soil acidity.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Color Varieties: Pinkish-white bloomsSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, moist, acidic, well-draining

More than most shrubs, lilacs need a well-drained location, as they may refuse to bloom if they have too much moisture. Don’t bother to plant them in a boggy location, or be prepared to heavily amend the soil to improve drainage.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Color Varieties: Lavender/purple; cultivars offering white and red flowers are also availableSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil

In colder climates, Japanese andromeda can dry out due to cold winds in winter. You can protect the plant by wrapping burlap around them in late fall.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade; flowering is reduced in shady conditionsSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil; prefers slightly acidic soil

Mock orange can become overgrown fairly quickly, so a rejuvenation pruning—hard pruning that cuts the bush back low to the ground—is a good idea every few years.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Variations: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Well-drained, loamy soil

Unless your soil has the natural acidity preferred by azaleas, feed them with an acid-enhanced fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, camellias, and azaleas.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9; range depends on varietyColor Varieties: White, lavender/purple, orange, peach, pink, redSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil; prefers acidic soil

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Medium-moisture soil; good tolerance for clay soil

‘Iceberg ‘is one of the nicer white roses. It is best grown in zones 5 to 9, growing to 3 feet tall with a spread of 4 feet. ‘Polar Express’ is another excellent white rose for zones 5 to 9, growing to about 4 feet. ‘Winchester Cathedral’ is a white rose suitable for zones 4 to 11, growing to about 4 feet.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 12; range depends on typeColor Varieties: Virtually all colors except true blue and blackSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil; prefers loamy texture

Spireas has fairly good tolerance for drought conditions once mature, but while young it is important to keep the plants well-watered. Mulching the soil will help keep it moist.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: White, pinkSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil

A wonderful choice for admirers of white flowers is the Incrediball hydrangea. The huge flower clusters will last right through fall, although the color changes to brown (sometimes with pink mixed in). Another very popular white variety is ‘Annabelle’, a smooth hydrangea that grows to 5 feet. The ideal location for most hydrangeas will provide sun in the morning, shade in the heat of the afternoon. Planting is best done in spring and fall.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9, depending on varietyColor Varieties: White, sometimes transitioning to purple-pinkSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil; prefers slightly alkaline soil

As with the poinsettias, flowering comes into bloom as the days shorten. When the fragrant white flowers emerge, the bush reminds you of a giant snowball. To promote that look, give the plant a severe pruning back in early spring, then another in early summer. Wear gloves when you prune because some people are allergic to its milky sap.

USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 13Color Varieties: WhiteSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Medium-moisture, well-drained soil