White garden, autumn flowers
Create a white garden with autumn flowers and enjoy both the simplicity and, at the same time, the complexity of the planting combinations that you choose. Planting areas with a limited colour palette can be very gentle on the eye, especially if they are pales or pastels. Late summer and early autumn gardens are often filled with deep, rich and vibrant colour flowers, but there are plenty of white and cream flowers to choose from. After the hustle and bustle of a busy day, what is nicer than to have an area in your garden that feels calm and soothing?
Inspired by the White Garden at Sissinghurst, a creation by Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West, this article looks at some of the flowers in bloom during September and October. Plants are chosen for gardens in a temperate climate, like the UK or America’s Pacific north west region.
Dahlia
Dahlia have many differing attributes, choose one that suits your site for height, colour of leaf and stem and for the flower form. There are a host of white and cream dahlias to choose from. Try pale dahlias like Cafe au Lait with it’s large flowers that start out palest pink and fade to a rich cream. Ideal for cutting or for enjoying in the garden. Deadhead regularly to ensure continued flowering until the frosts arrive.
‘My Love’ makes a bold statement with semi-cactus flowers up to 15cm across. Plant grows to 100cm high and 50cm spread. The sturdy stems make them excellent cut flowers.
In cold and wet areas, lift plants after the first frost to store inside for the winter. In warmer areas, where the ground drains readily, apply a thick mulch once stems have been knocked back by the frost.
Roses
The mainstay of any cottage garden, roses also suit most situations and garden styles. Whether you want to create a soft, romantic look or orderly, structured garden, there will be a rose to fit perfectly. Choose the growth habit from groundcover roses, bush or shrub roses, standard roses, climbing roses or ramblers and more. Additionally, within each group of roses, there will be different flower forms, sizes, fragrance and flowering times.
Claire Austin, from David Austin Roses, is a repeat flowering, climbing rose that reaches 3.75m high and has a strong myrrh fragrance. Grow against a wall, trellis or arch. Alternatively, choose a rose arch tunnel, like the one at Byther Farm, which can be found at Direct Plants, use the code LIZ10 at the checkout for 10% discount.
For a shrub rose or standard rose, try Tranquility, with its clusters of large blooms with a light, fruity fragrance. The shrub rose grows to 120cm height and spread and is repeat flowering.
‘Kew Gardens’ is another pale rose that has yellow hints opening to white.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver Dollar’
A compact hydrangea that grows to 150cm height and spread, making it ideal for the middle of the border or where space is limited. It is an unfussy plant that will do well in most situations and soils, although it may struggle in waterlogged ground.
Nicotiana sylvestris
These interesting flowers fill the surrounding air with their sweet scent. They are surprisingly simple to grow from seed. Sow in spring and grow one under cover to plant out after all risk of frost is past. The huge leaves can feel slightly sticky, so avoid planting right next to a pathway. Height up to 150cm and 50cm spread. It is possible to overwinter in a frost free greenhouse or polytunnel.
Cosmos
Cosmos come in a range of colours and shapes, from simple single forms to shaggy, double flowers. They are easy to grow from seed sown in spring. Keep potting on until risk of frost has passed. Most varieties reach over 100cm height and 60cm spread.
With regular deadheading, cosmos will continue to flower until they are knocked back by the frost. Plant in the middle of the border or let the plants flop over the paths for a soft billowy look.
Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Flush of White’
I love how the delicate white flowers smother the upright stems of these Verbascum. A short-lived perennial, they have been flowering well in our garden for three years. This is one for the front or centre of the border, reaching 60cm-70cm high and spreading to 40cm. The rosettes of leaves are evergreen and attractive to mullein moth caterpillar.
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Wirral Supreme’
If you want a big splash of bright white in your garden during late summer and early autumn, you can’t go far wrong with shasta daisies. These clump forming plants can be quite vigorous, but are easy to keep in check by lifting and dividing in spring. Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Wirral Supreme’ grows to 70cm high and has flowers that are 10cm across. Place between other plants or provide support, to prevent stems flopping over in the wind.
Anemone x hybrida ‘Whirlwind’
Here’s another spreading herbaceous perennial that offers attractive semi-double white flowers held above rich green foliage. It grows 100cm high and 50cm spead and is very hardy. Japanese anemones are unfussy plants that prefers moist, but well-drained soil and will struggle in waterlogged areas. They dislike being moved, so choose the planting position carefully.
Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria prefer full sun and a well-drained, sheltered spot, therefore can thrive in a border below a sunny wall. A clump forming plant that will soon grow to provide a good display in the garden. Choose pale varieties in creams and whites for good impact in your calming garden area.
Cyclamen Hederifolium
For the very front of the border, or in pots, the ivy-leaved cyclamen will produce a display of flowers followed by their leaves. Growing 13cm high and 15cm spread, they self-seed easily and can form an attractive clump, providing good ground cover through the autumn and winter.
Scabiosa incisa ‘Kudo White’
I spotted this in a garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2024 and instantly liked it. The creamy white scabious flowers will attract pollinators to the garden. This herbaceous perennial forms a clump of 50cm height and width and it prefers full sun. Grow near the front of the border or in pots and deadhead regularly for a flower display through to late September.
Echinacea purpurea ‘Primadonna White’
Each year I look at the petals of this white echinacea and wonder whether it’s a green variety. And then the petals unroll to reveal the clean white colour, which contrast so well with the green central cone that turns bronze as the flower matures. Height 100cm and spread 50cm. I grow this variety at the front of the border as the stems hold themselves upright, while some of the foliage softens the edges of the path. Echinacea is another unfussy plant, but does need well drained soil to thrive. If your garden does not drain well, grow them in large pots or containers with well-draining compost.
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Add some silvery foliage to the mix in your calm border. Try underplanting the taller flowering plants with Brunnera, which is prefers to grow in shade. ‘Jack Frost’ has silvery white leaves that are edged and veined in green and will lift a dark corner. Height 50cm and 100cm spread. It will not thrive in full sun and prefers a sheltered spot.
Borage
There’s a delightful white form of borage that is easy to grow from seed and will self-seed readily around the garden. In many areas, borage may continue to flower right through the winter, offering forage for bees and other insects. The flowers of borage are edible (remove any green parts first). Use in salads, as cake decoration or in drinks. Try freezing the flowers in ice cubes for a fun addition to drinks!
Straw flowers
There are a number of different everlasting flowers that are ideal for the white garden, their flowers lasting into autumn.
Thrifty tip
Visit your local authority recycling centre, where you can often find garden hand tools, ornaments and pots at very low prices. If you paint tubs and pots cream or white, they will add to the overall look of the calm corner in your garden.
More information
An article ‘Create a calming corner’ was written for Amateur Gardening magazine in August 2024. I have added to the article and updated some of the specific varieties and images. Links are included to help you find the suggested plants that have flowers producing a scent in the spring months.
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