WONDERFUL WHITES
1 The annual Bishop’s Flower, Ammi majus, breeds like an aphid, spitting out three generations of seedlings between spring and autumn. The lacy umbels are ideal for picking. Seeds from Kings Seeds.
2 In moist soil in partial shade, perennial Solomon’s seal ( Polygonatum multiflorum) forms an elegant clump with slipper-like flowers dangling off its arching stems. I wish I’d planted it on the edge of my white garden, rather than in the middle, to better show off its graceful form. But I could shift it – it’s easily lifted and divided.
3 A treasured blast from the past, much like our own Otaki pinks, Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’ is an English old-timer with rich scent. Support with low stakes and string as its slender stems fall over.
4 If you haven’t the space (or desire) to grow Dame Edna’s favourite flamboyant flowers, start with the miniature spring-flowering Gladiolus ‘Albus’. A delight to grow and pick, they repeat bloom reliably without a hint of rust.
5 Viburnum ‘Summer Snowflake’ is a tidy gap-filling shrub with clustered tiers of white flowers. Mine took a couple of years to put on any height – they ultimately reach 2m – but they are bulking out nicely now.
6 The nectar-rich pompoms of sea thrift,
Armeria maritima ‘Alba’, appeal to bees and butterflies. It’s small and needs good drainage; pop in a gravel garden or rockery.
7 Dianthus ‘Coconut Sundae’ blooms for ages if the faded buds are deadheaded.
8 The giant pink Madeira cranesbill has none of the elegance of its white-flowered sibling, Geranium maderense ‘Alba’. It grows into a ferny metre-high mound one year, then flowers the next. From Joy Plants.
9 For a small, casual hedge, shiny green Mexican orange blossom, Choisya ternata, is handsome and floriferous.
10 The petite Aussie wax flower Philotheca myoporoides ‘Profusion’ (formerly known as eriostemon) thrives in dappled shade. It’s a real gem.
11 I have much better luck with anemones than ranunculus.
12 Papaver orientale ‘Royal Wedding’ has virginal crêpe-papery petals with a big black splotch. A Turkish perennial poppy, it’s prone to rot in wet soil.
13 Native to Australia, the resilient rice flower shrub ( Ozothamnus diosmifolius) is one of my favourites for drying. Pick when the buds are just beginning to open.
14 This giant hyacinth-flowered candytuft flowers on and off right through the year.
15 The snowball tree (a large shrub, really),
Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’ has blobby flowers that fade from lime to pure white.