5 Hibiscus with white flowers

Hibiscus syriacus 'Eléonore' – single Althea, pure white

Vigorous and easy to grow, the Hibiscus syriacus ‘Eléonore’ offers an immaculate white flowering, continually renewing. From July to September and even into autumn if the weather remains mild, it bears white single flowers composed of five petals arranged around a centre that is also white. The foliage, heart-shaped and lobed, is bright green, then becomes yellow in autumn and disappears when it gets cold. This shrub reaches up to 2 metres in height and 1.5 metres in width. It is frost-hardy to -23°C and can be grown in full sun in all regions. In terms of soil, it prefers a fresh, moist substrate through to summer, but also tolerates calcareous soils and dry soils. It grows well in a garden, where it can be integrated into a shrub hedge, a border or as a specimen on a lawn. It can also be planted in a large pot on a terrace to give it an exotic and elegant look.

Install it sheltered from the wind in a flowering hedge beside buddleias and other hibiscus in varied colours, such as Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ (Marina) and Hibiscus syriacus ‘Eruption’. In a border or in a pot, it can also be paired with dwarf conifers, shrubby salvias or asters.

Hibiscus syriacus 'Flower Tower White' - White Althea

The Hibiscus syriacus ‘Flower Tower White’ stands out for its narrow, upright habit, which makes it easy to fit into a contemporary garden or a small space. This shrub reaches a height of 4.50 metres at maturity and a width of 1.20 metres. Its dark green, slightly glossy, lobed foliage is cloaked in pure white flowers from August to October. The flowers may be single or semi-double, adorned with small petals at the centre. They measure 7–9 cm in diameter and are enhanced by a lovely white column of stamens. The leaves are deciduous and shed in November, reappearing in the following spring. The shrub grows best in full sun, and in light shade in southern regions. It prefers soil that stays slightly cool through summer.

The Hibiscus syriacus ‘Flower Tower White’ fits into a hedge or at the back of a border. Pair it with other hibiscus in different colours and shapes, such as Hibiscus syriacus ‘Magenta Chiffon’ and Hibiscus syriacus ‘Lavender Chiffon’, which offer large corollas of semi-double and crumpled flowers, mauve and purple-pink.

Hibiscus syriacus 'White Chiffon' - double white hibiscus

If you like crumpled, petal-packed flowers, the Hibiscus syriacus ‘White Chiffon’ is likely to appeal to you. It produces very double flowers in pure white, from July to September. They measure 6 cm in diameter and emerge on green, deciduous foliage. This bush with a bushy, spreading habit grows up to 2 metres high by 1 metre wide. Hardy to -23°C, it grows in full sun in well-drained soil. It is advisable to prune it fairly short in winter.

Hibiscus syriacus ‘White Chiffon’ can be planted in a hedge, in a border, or in a pot. It pairs elegantly with other hibiscus bearing double, crumpled flowers like it, but available in other colours. For example, pair it with Hibiscus ‘French Cabaret Purple’ which has distinctive, very double and violet flowers. You can also pair it with shrub salvias in vibrant colours such as Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’, with two-tone red and white flowers.

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Joli Coeur' - common Rose mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Joli Coeur’ is a common Rose mallow, whose large flowers of pure white, highlighted by a scarlet heart, are not easily overlooked. They open into broad cups 20 cm in diameter and are composed of pleated petals. They appear continuously from July to September on distinctive foliage that provides a backdrop for them. The leaves are dark in colour, ranging from purple to chocolate, tinged with bright green on the reverse, with veins and stems dark red. The young shoots are, however, anise-green, and these tones give the shrub a handsome decorative appeal. This hibiscus is a compact variety, which grows to 1.2 metres tall by 1 metre wide. It grows quickly and disappears as winter arrives, only to reappear in spring. Hardy to -15°C, it enjoys warmth, the sun and cool, moist, rich and well-drained soils.

‘Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Joli Coeur’ makes a splendid display when planted in a group around a pond, accompanied by other plants with a very exotic look, such as gunneras, cannas and colocasia, or ‘elephant ears’. Given its small size, it also grows very well in pots.

Hibiscus syriacus 'Diana' – White Althea

The Hibiscus syriacus ‘Diana’ is a very floriferous variety, with flowering extending from August to October. The shrub with an upright habit grows to a height of 2 metres and a spread of 1.5 metres. It produces single flowers of pure white, with petals slightly undulated at the edges. They measure between 5 and 12 cm in diameter. In the centre, they are adorned with a column of stamens fused together and white in colour. The foliage is lobed, dentate and undulated, dark green and slightly glossy. It becomes deciduous from November. After flowering, fruits appear. If you wish to encourage flowering, you can remove these fruits as they appear. Hardy to -23°C, this hibiscus enjoys being planted in sun, in moist soil through the summer and is easy to grow.

You can use the Hibiscus syriacus ‘Diana’ to create a flowering hedge. Pair it with an Abelia, daylilies, gauras and tree mallows.

Further reading

• Other hibiscus with white flowers will make a splash in your garden, such as the Hibiscus syriacus ‘French Point’ with double flowers and white-and-red bi-colour blooms, which bloom from July to October, or the Hibiscus paramutabilis for collectors.
• Discover our complete Hibiscus range to help you choose.
• You may also read our Hibiscus fact sheet to learn more about planting, varieties and their association with other plants.

Hibiscus paramutabilis and Hibiscus syriacus ‘French Point’