One of the most beautiful gardens I have ever come across is a "White Garden." If you've never seen one before, then a great surprise awaits you. You may think that a white garden in the written sense sounds boring. On the contrary, in appearance, it is exquisite not only during daylight hours while basking in the sun's rays, but especially at night glowing under a silvery moon.
Just like the name implies, a "White Garden" is a array of flora that creates white blossoms, variegated leaves or plants that are of a silverish tint. All flowers whether they are from shrubs, perennials, annuals, vines and trees are white. White gardens are not without purpose and nothing new, but have been traced back to Japan during the Medieval times. The idea of using all white flowers was created to reflect the moonlight. Since then, white gardens have emerged and reemerged throughout the world and in home gardens all across the US.
The White Garden goes by other names such as Moon Garden, Moonlight Garden and Moonbeam Garden. Regardless of the names, the effects are identical in that they harness the moon's illumination and reflect light. The best time for a white garden is during the full moon phase, which is mesmerizing. Regardless of the phase of the moon, the garden will still reflect any portion of the moon's light.
In the past I have used plants such as: White Vinca, Petunias, Verbena, Snapdragons, Trailing Lantana, Southwestern Mums, Desert Zinnias, Bougainvillea, Roses and Trailing Desert Broom. I didn't want you to be limited, so I have put together a list for almost every available white flower, annual, perennial, ground cover, succulent, shrub, vine and tree that is suitable for a White Garden in the Southwest Desert. If space is limited-try planting the whites in pots on balconies, decks or in your backyard. With a white garden or a white pot—you’ll never be disappointed.
Plants for White Gardens
Any white annual, biennials, perennials, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers from the list below will do well. Also, include silvery or white variegated foliage plants to enhance moonlight effects. A few shrubs are repeated in the tree category because they can be either.
Annuals
Southwest Cosmos, White Vinca, Alyssum, Petunias, Bacopa, Verbena, Marguerite Daisy, Snap dragon, Spreading Fleabane, Five Spot, Shirley Poppy, Moss Rose and Zinnia "Profusion' Series and Begonia
Ground Cover
Trailing Desert Broom, Bush Morning Glory, Trailing Lantana, Myoporum and Tufted Evening Primrose
Low-Water Succulent and Accents
Desert Milkweed, Grass Tree, Candelilla Banana Yucca, Soaptree Yucca, Paleleaf or Blue Yucca
Perennials
Southwestern Mums, Hosta, Iris, Lily, roses, Gaura, Blackfoot Daisy, Autumn Sage, Globe Mallow, Rain Lily and Desert Zinnia
Shrubs
Silvery Agave, Variegated Euonymouys, Viburnum, Apache Plume, Bee Bush, Triangleleaf, Bursage, Texas Olive-shrub or tree, Little-leaf Cordia, Flattop Buckwheat, Kidneywood, Texas Sage, Wolfberry, Myrtle, Oleander, White Plumbago, and Arizona Rosewood
Trees
Anacacho Orchid Tree, Desert Willow, Texas Olive, Feather Bush and Arizona Rosewood
Vines
Queen's Wreath, Bougainvillea, Baja Passion Vine, Lady Banks' Rose and Potato Vine
Happy Gardening,
Bev
Happy Gardening,
Bev
