White Flowers to grow this summer

The summer flowering season is a very under-rated period for bulbs, but you can add that pure, cool fresh feel to your garden with such little effort.

What to plant for June/July

One of our favourite bulbs to plant for pure ease is gladiolus callianthus, also known as acidanthera. They are a form of gladioli but naturalise really well, grow to 2-3 feet and have a wonderful early summer fragrance.

Lilies – majestic colour and presence

Dating as far back as 1580 B.C., when images of lilies were discovered in a villa in Crete, these majestic flowers have long held a role in ancient mythology. Derived from the Greek word “leiron,” (generally assumed to refer to the white Madonna lily – candidum), the lily was so revered by the Greeks that they believed it sprouted from the milk of Hera, the queen of the gods. Lilies are known to be the May birth flower, and the 30th wedding anniversary flower.

Dahlias – Flower late summer to first frosts

One of the easiest plants to grow, the dahlia is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and situations.  The ideal of course is a light open soil in full sun.  The plants, which come from the modified root or tuber are not frost hardy and therefore should be planted out in late May or early June depending on your location in the country.  In some very mild south coastal locations this date can be brought forward by several weeks. The tubers should be lifted in the late autumn and stored in a frost-free place over winter.

Have a look at these other white beauties

We have other bulbs that will add that element of surprise and are slightly unusual but again so easy to grow. Dodecatheon meadia alba, also known as Shooting Stars have attractive stems with cyclamen like flowers.

Dicentra spectablis alba is the white form of Bleeding Heart or Lady in the Bath. They are superb and produce masses of slender gracefully arching stems.

Cypredium reginae alba is the pure white form of reginae, one of the hardiest of the Lady Slipper Orchid