White Flowers for Sunny Locations

Phlox

• Phlox comes in a wide variety of colors, the most common being purple, but new cultivars such as "David" and "World Peace," have proven that white-flowered varieties are a desirable choice. Many of the new, white-flowered cultivars such as David do not exhibit the problems, such as powdery mildew, that the old-fashioned purple varieties are so well-known for. Phlox will bloom for six weeks or more in the garden and attract a variety of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Phlox is an ideal plant for the back of the border, but be sure to give it plenty of room to spread and allow for adequate air circulation.

Cosmos

• Cosmos is a self-seeding annual plant, which means it grows, flowers, sets seed and dies in one growing season. Once you have this plant in your garden, however, if you allow some of the seeds to drop, it will come back the following year. Cosmos come in a wide array of colors including yellow, purple, pink and bi-colors. The plain white variety is known as "Psycho White." Cosmos thrive in hot, dry locations with poor soil. They are pest-free, attract a wide variety of birds and butterflies, plus are ideal for creating a natural screen in the garden.

Shasta Daisy

• Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum) is an easy-to-grow plant that is ideal for creating a natural look in a garden. The 3-inch, white, daisylike blossoms with bright yellow centers look good in combination with most other plants. Shasta daisies bloom from July to September. Some of the taller varieties will require staking to keep them upright in the garden. The newer cultivars do not need this, as they are shorter and the stems are sturdier. Good drainage is essential for this plant to survive, especially over the winter months.

Coneflower

• A native of the eastern and central United States, coneflower (Echinacea) is ideal for naturalizing in the garden. Don't let the common name of purple coneflower convince you that all varieties of this plant have purple flowers. The flowers come in many colors including red, orange, green, yellow and white. "White Swan" and "Kim's Mophead" are two of the white varieties. The plant is deer-resistant and blooms from June through August. Allow the faded flowers to remain on the plant in late August. The seed they produce will attract goldfinches into the garden.