• White flowers show well against a dark background.White Flower image by Perfect Shooter from Fotolia.com
  
  Leave the color wheel at home when shopping for white flowers --- they go with everything! White perennials are particularly useful in shade gardens and gardens that are enjoyed at night. In low-light situations, where dark colors fade into the background, white flowers are easy to see. White perennials also make the garden seem cooler and larger than it is.
  
  

Astilbe

• Astilbe (Astilbe x arrendsii) produces white, pink or red feathery plumes in late spring and early summer. Plant them in masses for a striking effect, or in groups of three in smaller gardens. Astilbe needs partial shade and a rich, moist or wet soil. Incorporate organic material into the soil before planting and apply mulch after planting to help the soil hold moisture. Water regularly and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in early spring. Astilbe is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9.
  
  

Lily of the Valley

• Lily of the Valley thrives in moist, shady spots.lily of the valley image by Olena Turovtseva from Fotolia.com
  
  Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) produces intensely fragrant, bell-shaped flowers along arching flower stems. Use these dainty little bells in bouquets and flower arrangements. The long, broad, thick, foliage is pointed on the tip, and each leaf arises directly from the ground. Lily of the valley is often used as a ground cover, spreading quickly to fill an area. Lily of the valley needs full or partial shade and an organically rich, moist, well-drained soil. It needs little care after planting except to water when the soil begins to dry. It is hardy in USDA zones 2 through 7.
  
  

Bugbane

• Bugbanes (Cimicifuga spp) are large, graceful plants with fine-textured foliage. Tall stems that rise above the foliage hold spikes of white flowers that resemble bottlebrushes. Use them in fresh or dried flower arrangements. Two commonly grown bugbanes are black cohosh (C. racemosa), which grows 6 feet tall with 2-foot flower spikes and Kamchatka (C. simplex), which grows 3 to 4 feet tall and has slightly fragrant flowers. The name comes from the scented leaves, which may repel insects. Bugbane needs light shade and a deep, organically rich soil that is moist but well drained. Bugbane is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8.
  
  

Boltonia

• Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides) grows 5 to 6 feet tall with a spread of 4 feet. Masses of white or pink daisy-like flowers bloom in late summer and fall. The lower parts of the stem have sparse foliage, so underplant with shorter flowers or use boltonia in the back of the border. These plants need full sun or partial shade and a well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Pinch back the stems in early summer to promote sturdy, compact growth. Otherwise, the tall, top-heavy plants may require staking. Compact cultivars such as Snowbank never require staking. Boltonia is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9.