White has been named the color of next year. This was decided by the Pantone Color Institute, that each year selects a shade reflecting the spirit of the times and global mood. The color of 2026 was chosen to be a shade of white, which the company poetically named Cloud Dancer. Experts explained their choice as follows: this sublime shade of white symbolizes a calming influence in society and rediscovers the true value of quiet reflection. The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, and it is increasingly difficult to hear the voice of our inner selves. Like a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer calls to free ourselves from the distractions of the outside world and invites to immerse ourselves in creativity, unclouded by anything, full of freedom and tranquility.
White is not the absence of color. On the contrary, white absorbs all shades, it is an all-encompassing color and truly defines the beginning of everything. In interior design, white often dominates, becoming a backdrop for other shades, expanding the interior space of the home, enveloping and calming.
Is it possible to create the same space outside the home, in the garden? Of course, and such garden rooms have already been created.
The first monochrome white garden was created a hundred years ago in England by the famous aristocrat, writer, journalist, and talented gardener Vita Sackville-West. At their estate in Sissinghurst, she and her husband Harold Nicolson laid out a garden that embodied the latest ideas for garden rooms and created a White Garden. The very precise balance of white, silver, and green colours produces a stunning effect. Vita’s White Garden has been preserved and is still carefully maintained by gardeners today.
Textures, shapes, and shades of foliage play a very important role in a monochrome garden. Take, for example, the low boxwood hedge (parterre) in the photo above. The colour white itself has different shades, from dazzling snow-white to buttery cream. It is quite easy to find plants with shades of white and silver, but it is more important to find the right combinations and take into account the seasonality when the plants are most decorative. You can start by planting spring bulbs – snowdrops, puschkinia, crocuses, white daffodils, and tulips. Along with tulips, I would plant annual White honesty or Lunaria annua var. Albiflora, also known for its silvery translucent coin-like seeds, which will be a wonderful component of winter dry bouquets. The photos below show early spring bulbs and Annual honesty.
Fruit trees begin to bloom in May. My choice for a white garden is the low-growing ornamental apple tree Malus ‘Evereste’, which is literally covered with snow-white flowers in spring. Vita’s White Garden features a small pendulous willow-leaved pear, Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’, which, in addition to its lush white blossoms in spring, maintains the theme of the white garden with its silvery foliage and rewards the gardener with delicious fruit in autumn.
My favorite perennials, Peonies, many varieties of which have shades of white will continue the decorative season. These include Common peony Paeonia lactiflora – the Latin specific epithet ‘lactiflora’ means “with milk white flowers”. It is amazing that Paeonia lactiflora was known as the white peony (P. albiflora) when it was first introduced to Europe.
But the main focus in a white garden would be on roses, of which there are huge varieties in shades of white. One of the largest climbing roses, Rosa ‘Mulliganii’, grows in the Sissinghurst garden. This rose is distinguished by its rich musky scent, which can be compared to the smell of honey, and its stunningly lush blooms completely covering the foliage. Garden centers offer a huge selection of roses; so, there is a rose for every garden.
Large-flowered clematis is a perfect match for a climbing rose.
For abundant flowering, Clematis stems should be exposed to sunlight, while the lower part should remain in the moist shade. To achieve this, medium-sized flowering plants with lush foliage could be planted around the clematis. There are many options for our white garden: the annual Lychnis coronaria ‘Alba’, perennials such as Malva moschata, Phlox paniculata, common yarrow Achillea millefolium, and Gaura lindheimeri (one of the longest and most profusely flowering plants).
The second half of summer is always marked by a slight decline in flowering. Therefore, it is important to have plants in your flower bed that bloom in the late summer and remain decorative until winter. These include grasses. For our white garden Pennisetum villosum with its beautiful white brush-like inflorescences that elegantly bend downward, will be a wonderful addition.
Among the perennials of autumn interest, I always single out the Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ – a beautiful white bloom, completely unpretentious – it grows both in the shade and in the sun. For our white garden, I would plant it under the crabapple tree ‘Everest’ – in autumn the shady area under the tree crown will brighten up thanks to the anemone.
I cannot fail to mention Hydrangea arborescence Anabelle blooming with white caps. In my opinion, it is an essential component of a white garden—it will dominate the autumn scene.
I will name a few more plants that are perfect for our white garden room – these are perennials with silvery foliage that will fill the gaps between flowering plants and serve as a beautiful addition to all shades of white. Stachys byzantina with silvery and very soft leaves, which gave it another name “lamb’s ears”; Silver wormwood Artemisia ludoviciana; Giant sea holly Eryngium giganteum is distinguished by its silvery-green, slightly metallic inflorescences and foliage; Clematis recta is not a climber, but an upright shrub with small milky-white flowers with a strong honey scent. Many other plants that fit the theme of a white garden could be added to this list. It all depends on the specific location, conditions, and availability of plants in local nurseries.
Next spring, you can try creating your own white garden, perhaps on a very small plot, or even put together a white and silver mix in a container.
When selecting plants for a pot, remember one rule, which the English call “thriller–filler–spiller.” That is, to create a harmonious composition in a planter, there should be a tall bright focal plant – a thriller; a medium-sized plant – a filler, which ties the whole composition together; and a spiller hanging over the edge of the planter.
If you’ve read to the end and aren’t tired of the white, then a monochrome white garden is right for you. I wish you all the best in planning and implementing your white-themed garden project in the new year.
