20 Bushes With White Flowers For a Fresh Spring Garden

Bushes with white flowers can bring so much joy to your yard and garden. They not only look beautiful, but their sweet smells can instantly lift your spirits. Whether you want blooms for your border garden, cute containers on your porch, or just a few sweet-smelling surprises, these aromatic finds will brighten your day whenever their perfume floats your way.

So if you’re looking to fill your outdoor sanctuaries with some seriously fragrant flowers this year, keep reading for some stunning choices with smells as sweet as can be.

Bushes With White Flowers Worth Sniffing Up for Your Garden

1. Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are loved for their colorful blooms and light, sweet fragrance. These climbing annuals produce clusters of delicate flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and orange.

Sweet peas thrive in cool weather and need a trellis or other support for their climbing stems. 

They prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil that is amended with organic matter. Sweet peas should be planted early in spring because the soil can be worked, and they will continue flowering through summer until the first hard frost. The light, perfumed flowers make sweet peas a popular choice for mixed borders, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens.

To promote continuous blooms, deadhead faded flowers and provide support as the vines grow. Sweet peas tend to sprawl without proper staking or trellising. With optimal conditions and adequate water, sweetpeas will provide a profusion of fragrant blossoms for many weeks.

2. Jasmine

Jasmine vines are renowned for their intoxicatingly sweet fragrance and profusion of small, star-shaped flowers. Garden jasmines include varieties with white, yellow, and pink blooms. Jasmine vines thrive in warm climates with full sun and consistently moist, well-draining soil. They need support from a trellis, fence, or arbor to climb on.   

Jasmine flowers are produced terminally on new growth, so pruning after the main bloom period encourages a second flush of blossoms. The fragrant jasmine blooms emerge at night and fade by midday, releasing their narcotic perfume that can fill an entire yard. Regular deadheading will prolong flowering into fall.  

Over time, jasmine vines can spread widely to cover fences, walls, and arbors with a veil of blossoms, infusing outdoor spaces with their sweet scent. As night falls, the heavily perfumed flowers open in sequence, releasing waves of heady scent carried on the balmy air. By morning, clusters of delicate white blossoms fill the trellis, releasing their last drops of sweet elixir.  

The divine aroma of blossoming jasmine vines invokes a visceral response, transporting the senses to a magical dreamscape. The multiple varieties add diversity to the profusion of fragrant flowers. Together, jasmine blooms provide a sensory experience, filling the air with a heavenly perfume that captures the imagination and delights the soul.

3. Lavender

The fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage of lavender make it an iconic plant for sunny, dry gardens. The spikes of pale purple blooms emerge above grey-green foliage, attracting butterflies and bees with their sweet nectar.

Lavender grows best in alkaline, sandy soil with full sun and excellent drainage. It has low water needs once established. Pruning after flowering encourages bushier growth and more flowers in the following season. Winter hardiness varies by species.

The aromatic foliage of lavender can be used fresh or dried for sachets, potpourri, and culinary purposes. Bees and butterflies flock to the nectar-rich spikes of lavender blooms from spring through summer. Lavender’s ornamental silver foliage and structure also provide year-round visual appeal. With minimal care, lavender can bloom reliably for years, adding its sweet fragrance and soft purple color to sunny perennial gardens and landscapes.

4. Roses

Roses are arguably the most renowned fragrant flowers, with a history of cultivation spanning thousands of years. Beyond their intoxicating perfume, roses offer stunning color, shape, and texture in gardens.

Roses thrive with full sun, rich soil, and consistent moisture. They require good air circulation and drainage to reduce disease risks. Many gardeners amend rose soil with organic materials like compost and sand. Deadheading spent blooms encourages repeat flowering. Pruning after the first bloom cycle reinvigorates the bush for a second flush.

The perfume of roses varies by variety from subtly floral to intensely sweet. Garden roses include hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, shrub roses, and climbing roses. Each class offers a different bloom time, shape, size, and fragrance. 

Well-suited for borders and beds, climbing and rambling roses can also cover arbors, pergolas, and fences in a cloud of color and scent. With their beauty and long history, roses remain irreplaceable in gardens worldwide for their ability to fill outdoor spaces with color, texture, and their unforgettable fragrance.

5. Gardenia

The gardenia is a popular flowering shrub valued for its waxy white blooms and intense tropical fragrance. These thick, dark green leaves provide an attractive backdrop to the showy flowers. Gardenias require consistently moist, highly organic soil that is rich in organic matter and acidic. They thrive with protection from harsh sun and winds but need bright, dappled shade for optimal flowering.

The pure white, funnel-shaped flowers of gardenias emit a heady, sweet perfume resembling coconut and vanilla. Individually, the flowers last only two to three days, but new blossoms continue forming from spring through summer.

Gardenias respond well to pruning to encourage bushier growth and more flowers. They can be grown as a hedge, specimen shrub, or container plant, and are often used for anatomical purposes as well. The alluring fragrance and tropical vibe of gardenias make them a popular choice for adding scent and allure to shady gardens and landscapes.

6. Honeysuckle

Honeysuckles are beloved for their heady fragrance and colorful, tubular flowers. Both upright shrub varieties and climbing vines are commonly grown in landscapes. Honeysuckles prefer full sun and consistently moist, well-draining soil. They grow rapidly in the spring and produce lush new growth that bears fragrant flowers. The tubular blooms range from white and yellow to orange and red.

As the flowers fade, they release their nectar and intensely sweet aroma that can fill entire gardens. Typically flowering from spring through fall, honeysuckles provide months of fragrance during the peak garden season.

Climbing honeysuckles vines spread rapidly to cover walls, trellises, and fences with their bloom display. Upright shrubs offer dense, spreading habits that work well in borders and beds. The intoxicating perfume and long bloom time make honeysuckles a favorite among fragrant flowering plants for gardens.

7. Hyacinth

Hyacinths are beloved spring bulbs that produce dense spikes of fragrant flowers in striking colors. Their pleasantly sweet aroma and vivid colors herald the arrival of warmer weather. Hyacinths thrive in full sun with organic, free-draining soil that is worked into raised beds. They are not hardy plants and must be dug up and stored indoors after flowering to protect the tender bulbs.   

Hyacinth flowers range in color from blues, purples, pinks, and whites. As temperatures warm in the spring, the dense spikes emerge, offering an intense aroma that can fill entire gardens. People often associate the sweet fragrance of hyacinths with the spirit of spring renewal after the dormancy of winter. 

Once established, hyacinth bulbs will self-propagate and multiply over time, allowing gardeners to lift established bulbs and transplant or share them with others to expand their collections. The striking blossoms and intense aroma of hyacinths make them among the most celebrated spring-flowering bulbs.   

As the purple or blue spikes emerge in neatly planted rows, their sweet perfume fills the air and promises an end to winter’s chill. The fragrance intensifies as blossoms open fully, each vying to release the greatest volume of sweet scent. Garden visitors linger the longest by the hyacinth beds, enchanted by the potent perfume that embodies the hope and promise of spring emerging after winter’s long slumber.

8. English Primrose

The cheerful blooms and light fragrance of primroses herald the arrival of spring after the long winter months. These perennial flowers come in various colors, from purple, pink, and yellow to white and red. Primroses grow best in partial shade and moist and well-drained soil which is rich in organic matter. They thrive in woodland gardens or semi-shaded borders that mimic their natural habitat.

The nodding flowers open from buds at the top of elongated stalks, typically during late winter and early spring. Their lightly fragrant blossoms have an almond-like perfume that is pleasant but mild compared to many other spring-flowering plants.

As the temperatures rise, primroses often go dormant, with growth resuming in fall when days shorten. Their lush, green foliage provides attractive ground cover and texture for shaded gardens during the growing season. Outdoor planting of primroses depends on the winter hardiness of the variety and local climate zone. When grown as houseplants, primrose will continue to bloom intermittently throughout the year.

9. Tulips

Famed for their vibrant colors, tulips produce gorgeous cups of blooms in striking hues to signal the arrival of warm weather. The fragrance of tulips ranges from mildly sweet to intense and spicy, depending on the variety.

Tulips thrive in full sun with organic-rich, free-draining soil that is amended with compost and sand. They grow best when planted in raised beds or on hills to ensure good drainage. During active growing spring, tulip bulbs require consistent moisture to push new foliage and stem up through the soil.

Tulip flowers come in white, yellow, orange, purple, red, and beautiful bi-colors. Their distinctively shaped blooms emit aromas that range from sweetly fragrant to nearly scentless. The most highly fragrant tulips typically have cup-shaped, rather than start-shaped, blooms. Planting a mix of fragrant and non-fragrant varieties offers both perfume and vivid color for spring gardens.

Once established, tulips multiply freely by producing offshoot bulbs each year. They provide a profusion of blooms for several weeks in spring until dehydrating and going dormant in summer’s heat. The colorful blooms and sweet fragrance of tulips mark the arrival of warmer weather after a long winter.

10. Wisteria

Wisteria vines produce beautiful clusters of lavender, pink or white flowers that exude a sweet, aromatic fragrance. The blooms form in dangling racemes that can reach over 3 feet in length on mature vines.

Wisteria requires full sun and fertile, well-draining soil to thrive. Its large root system benefits from plenty of space. Wisteria vines need support from trellises, arbors, or sturdy fences to climb on.   

Pruning wisteria after it flowers helps control its vigorous growth and optimize flowering. Left unpruned, wisteria vines can become overgrown and unruly. Wisteria blooms appear before the leaves in late spring to early summer, filling the air with their alluring perfume.   

The pendulous blossoms develop from buds on the previous year’s growth, so maintaining a balanced framework of stems through pruning helps ensure consistent flowering. Once established, wisteria vines can spread 10 to 20 feet annually, producing abundant blossom displays that perfume the surrounding garden for weeks.   

As temperatures rise and lengthening days hasten the arrival of spring, wisteria vines suddenly burst into bloom. Dangling clusters of fragrant blossoms perfume the garden, their sweet aroma signaling the start of warmer days to come. Visitors are drawn to stroll beneath the lush canopy of flowering vines, enchanted by the ethereal beauty and heady perfume.

11. Mock Orange

Mock orange shrubs produce aromatic white blossoms with an intensely sweet fragrance that resembles that of true orange flowers. The dark green, glossy foliage provides an attractive backdrop for the showy blooms.   

Mock orange thrives in sunny locations with fertile, well-draining soil. It has low water needs once established but performs best with supplemental irrigation during bloom time. Pruning after flowering in spring promotes bushier growth and maximum blossoms the following year.

The white blossoms erupt in clusters along older stems in spring, releasing an alluring citrus aroma that lingers in the air. The slightly waxy petals give way to developing small, inedible orange-like fruits.  

Mock orange shrubs grow 6 to 10 feet tall and almost as wide, making them an excellent choice for adding fragrant blossoms and year-round appeal to sunny gardens. While flowers are short-lived, the intense sweet perfume they release makes mock orange well worth growing for the aromatic treat it provides each spring.   

As winter fades into spring, the first perfume arises from the mock orange shrub. Intoxicatingly sweet notes of orange blossom fill the warming air, transporting the senses to sun-drenched groves far away. Honeybees and songbirds flock to sip from the sweetly scented blossoms clustered thickly along each branch. The orange blossom reverie lingers, perfuming spring days with evocative nostalgia.

12. Convallaria Majalis

Commonly known as lily-of-the-valley, Convallaria majalis produces clusters of graceful, bell-shaped flowers that exude a sweet, honey-like fragrance. The lush foliage takes on vibrant shades of green and red in spring.

Lily-of-the-valley thrives in partial shade and moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. It grows best in slightly acidic conditions and benefits from leaf litter or mulch to retain soil moisture.

The drooping white flowers appear in spring en masse on stalks that rise above the foliage. They emit a sweet, light fragrance likened to fresh honey that fills surrounding gardens. As temperatures rise, the flowers fade and the foliage takes on color, becoming an attractive part of shaded gardens.

Lily-of-the-valley spread via underground rhizomes, though at a slow rate. It’s considered aggressive in optimal conditions, though many gardeners enjoy the charming mounds of color and fragrance the plants provide in spring. The aromatic white blooms and ferny greenery of lily-of-the-valley make it a prized addition to a woodland or semi-shade perennial borders seeking floral fragrance.

13. Lilac

Lilacs produce panicles of fragrant flowers in purple, white, and pale pink shades. The perfume they exude is considered classic, reminiscent of springtime. As the individual blooms open, they fill the surrounding gardens with their alluring aroma.

When pruned immediately after flowering, lilacs will produce numerous new shoots that yield an even greater display of blooms the following spring. The oval, simple leaves take on an attractive purple tinge before dropping in autumn. The textured bark and multi-stemmed habit make lilacs an asset to gardens even when not in flower.

Lilacs prefer full sun and space to develop and spread naturally. The fleshy roots can make transplanting adult specimens difficult. Growing Lilacs from cuttings or seedlings can offer more options for placement within the landscape.

The blooms of old-fashioned lilacs are typically small, single-colored flowers in dense clusters while newer French hybrids boast larger trusses of bi-colored flowers on more compact, ornamental plants. Regardless of variety, the evocative fragrance released by lilac flowers remains unmistakably resinous and rich, yet uplifting and cheery.

For centuries, lilacs have been prized for their ability to fill gardens with both beauty and their enchanting springtime perfume.

14. Tuberose

Tuberose plants produce tall stems topped with fragrant, waxy white flowers that emit a heavy, sweet perfume likened to honey and vanilla. Often used in perfumes, the intense aroma of tuberoses has been compared to that of sweet fruit.      

Tuberoses thrive in open, sunny locations with fertile, well-draining soil. They require regular watering and fertilizing during active growth to produce their large, showy blooms. Staking the tall flower stems helps prevent damage from wind and rain.   

Each individual tuberose flower typically lasts only three to four days on the plant before wilting. However, many successive new flowers continue opening up and down the flowering stems for months, resulting in long seasons of fragrance. The alluring perfume fills surrounding gardens during peak bloom times, wafting in the evening air.

As twilight falls over the garden, the viscous tuberose perfume floods the surrounding area. The fragrance, thick and sweet like honey, clings heavily to clothes and skin. Each intoxicatingly scented bloom slowly unfolds before wilting the next day, allowing no respite from the giddy perfume. Heavenly sweet and difficult to ignore, the divine aroma of tuberose transforms the evening garden into an Elysian pleasure dome.

15. Freesia

Freesias produce tall stalks of colorful, fragrant blooms in yellow, pink, purple, and white. The sweetly spicy aroma drifts on the air to perfume adjoining gardens. Freesias grow best in full sun with a rich, well-draining potting mix. They originate from Africa and thrive in warm, dry conditions akin to a Mediterranean climate.    

The tubular flowers of freesias showcase narrow throats that flare out into broader lips. Each bloom releases a sweetly spicy perfume likened to apples and sugar that travels in the air. Freesias produce successive flushes of flowers over three to six weeks in spring and early summer.   

As the first blooms of freesia appear, their ethereal perfume hangs lightly on the warming air like gossamer. Delicate yet compelling, the fragrance beckons from afar. Visitors soon follow their noses to discover the source of sweet delight erupting along slender stems. 

As more buds unfurl, releasing their own gentle perfume, the gentle spiced fragrance envelops garden and guest alike in heady reverie. Bit by bit, bloom by intoxicating bloom, freesias perfume the garden landscape with simple sweet delight that lifts the spirits and fills the soul with spring sunshine.

16. Eustoma Grandiflorum

Lisianthus plants produce tall stems topped with large flowers in white, purple, pink, and blue shades, with a light floral fragrance. The blooms last up to two weeks on the plant. Lisianthus prefers fertile, well-draining soil and full sun for optimal growth. They benefit from staking to support their tall flower stems. Regular fertilizing boosts bloom production.

The large, bell-shaped flowers face up towards the stems, creating a dramatic visual display. Light, floral fragrance emanates from the opened blossoms, subtly perfuming surrounding gardens.      

The bell-shaped blooms begin opening from the bottom up, spreading their pale floral perfume. A gentle breeze catches and carries the delicate fragrance, hinting at spring blossoms to come. The perfume refreshes like cool water in flowering tubes, renewing the spirit and easing the senses. Though faint, the lucent aroma awakens joy and anticipation for new life stirring within garden walls.

As a succession of blooms spread color and fragrance above, tranquil delight fills the garden. Visitors pause, enchanted by the grace and simplicity of lisianthus flowers and the subtle yet stirring perfume that rises to meet the warm sunlight and cloudless sky.

17. Stephanandra Incisa ‘Crispa’

Cutleaf Stephanandra produces slender branches crowded with fragrant star-shaped blossoms in white, pink, and occasionally purple. The deeply lobed leaves turn yellow in fall. Cutleaf Stephanandra prefers partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. It benefits from regular pruning after the initial spring flush of flowers to encourage additional blooms later in the season.

The small, star-shaped flowers appear in clusters along branches from spring through early summer. As they open, their light floral fragrance flavors adjacent gardens. Successive flushes of blooms often produce flowers for months.

Cutleaf Stephanandra grows into bushy multi-stemmed shrub that spreads gradually through rhizomes. Regular pruning slows the spread and maintains the manageable size of the plant. The ornamental leaves often color beautifully in autumn.

18. Daphne Spp.

Daphne plants produce fragrant clusters of pink, white, or purple flowers. The aromatic foliage fills the air year-round with its spicy fragrance. Daphnes thrive in partial shade and acidic,well-draining soil. They benefit from regular pruning after flowering to encourage successive flashes of blooms over time. Many require winter chilling to bloom.

The clusters of tubular or star-shaped flowers appear in a wide range of colors depending species. As they open, their heady perfume fills the surrounding gardens. Some varieties, especially fragrant leaves, flavor adjacent areas year-round.

Both the aromatic foliage and fragrant blooms contribute to the appeal of daphnes, making them valuable choices for efficiently perfumed gardens with their rich yet delicate perfume. Daphnes are an asset for gardens seeking aromatic interest year-round.

19. Stephanotis Floribunda

Madagascar jasmine produces clusters of fragrant tubular flowers over a long bloom period. The glossy evergreen leaves provide visual interest year-round. Stephanotis thrives in partial shade and consistently moist, well-draining soil. It can be pruned and trained as a compact shrub or allowed to vine.

The star-shaped flowers appear in clusters along the stems. As the creamy white blossoms open, they release a heavy, intensely sweet fragrance that lingers in the air and fills gardens. New flushes of fragrant blooms often continue generating for months.

The vines will gradually spread to cover supports like trellises and fences, though pruning helps control size. The glossy evergreen leaves add visual interest even when not in flower. The long seasons of heavily fragrant flower production and the ability to cover walls and screens make Madagascar jasmine a choice addition for efficiently perfuming gardens and outdoor spaces. 

20. Cestrum Nocturnum

Night-blooming jasmine plants produce fragrant white tubular flowers that open after dusk and emit a sweet perfume that intensifies at night. Night-blooming jasmine thrives in full sun and consistently moist, well-draining soil. It benefits from regular irrigation and fertilizing during active growth. Pruning after the initial flush of blooms encourages rebloom.

The heavily fragrant tubular flowers open just before sunset and fully reveal their star shape during the night when their perfume intensifies. The heady floral fragrance wafts through adjacent areas, permeating the surrounding air. Successive blooms ensure a long season of fragrance.

Night-blooming jasmine plants grow into sizable shrubs and small trees. Regular pruning helps maintain a size suitable for the landscape. The glossy evergreen foliage provides visual interest year-round.

Conclusion

There are many beautiful white-flowering bushes that can bring fresh energy and fragrance to spring gardens. 

• Madagascar jasmine produces clusters of fragrant tubular flowers over a long bloom period.

• Cutleaf Stephanandra produces slender branches crowded with fragrant star-shaped blossoms in white, pink, and occasionally purple colors.

• Freesias produce tall stalks of colorful, fragrant blooms in yellow, pink, purple, and white.

Plant white-flowering shrubs this spring and allow their aroma and beauty to rinse away any lingering heaviness from winter’s end. Their delicate presence will fortify your spirit for what’s to come, reminding you that rebirth happens gradually, one small blossom at a time.