9 Weeds With White Flowers: The Most Common Ones in Gardens

Weeds with white flowers are refreshing when they pop up in the middle of our gardens. Sometimes they’re grown purposefully but most of the time by accident. But are they as harmless as they look?

Let’s explore some of the most common garden weeds that produce white flowers.

List of Garden Weeds That Produce White Flowers

1. White Clover

Plant information	Trifolium repens – scientific name Fabaceae – family USDA zone 4 to 8
Distinguishing characteristics	Leaflets are in oblong or wedge shapes Leaves are usually variegated with white or red marks Flowers are usually white but can sometimes come in pink hues
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Grown to reduce soil erosion in many residential gardens while increasing nutrient content in soils Damaged leaf tissues release cyanide, making this plant very toxic when ingested Has a quick spread and strong establishment

If you’re looking for a pretty white flower from a vigorous plant, then this white clover from the Fabaceae family may be for you. Keep it contained in selected areas to keep this weed from taking over your yard, because they can be quite aggressive with their growth and thrive.

In the summer, white clover flowers provide food for bees and butterflies, and this is a determiner that they are beneficial flowers that can appear in your yard.

2. Hairy Bittercress

Plant information	Cardamine hirsuta – scientific name Brassicaceae – family USDA zone 4 to 8
Distinguishing characteristics	Pairs of alternating leaves in kidney or heart shapes Grows from 4 to 12 inches tall Hairs on leaves tend to be very small and usually present in younger leaves
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Tender leaves are edible with amounts of vitamins and minerals Flowers are tougher and more fibrous than the leaves Invasive and strong when spreading

Some homeowners welcome the presence of hairy bittercress plants due to their edibility and nutrient content. Others use broadleaf herbicides to control their aggressive spread.

Either way, the hairy bittercress plant is an interesting specimen that you might consider studying for its benefits. They grow looking pretty good, with their little white-colored flowers and green leaves with tiny hairs covered; however, they do grow in an invasive way, and you will see them shooting up.

3. Stinging Nettle

Plant information	Urtica dioica – scientific name Urticaceae family USDA zone 1 to 10
Distinguishing characteristics	Slender square stems with thin, dark, toothed green leaves with fine hairs Plant can grow from 6 to 8 feet tall Bright yellow stolons and roots
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Cooked or dried parts are used in traditional medicine Brushing on fresh leaves can cause severe skin irritation Aggressive growth is what establishes it

This particular plant is usually avoided due to the irritating reactions on the skin upon contact. While it does have traditional medicinal benefits, this plant is not ideal if you have active children or pets playing near them.

Mowing your lawn regularly can prevent their growth and spread, because they have strong roots that they are bound to, due to their growth. However, you must not pull it with your hands because they may cause skin irritation.

4. Common Mouse Ear Chickweed

Plant information	Cerastium fontanum – scientific name Caryophyllaceae – family USDA zone 4 to 11
Distinguishing characteristics	Prostrate and erect growing habit Stems are usually forked with a line of fine hairs on both sides Leaves are broad, egg-shaped, and pointed at the tip
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Used in traditional medicine to treat cuts, abrasions, and eczema Leaves are edible although too much can cause upset stomachs due to high saponin content Multiplies quite fast and strong

This common chickweed can easily compete with vegetables and other plants for nutrients, water, and space. While the ear chickweed does produce small and attractive white flowers, some homeowners may find this particular weed annoying.

As long as the soil is moist, and the growing weed is located under bright and direct light, it will grow so easily and would multiply as well. If you wish to take it off by pulling them, you can do that, or you can use tools as well to cut them off.

5. Wild Carrot

Plant information	Daucus carota – scientific name Apiaceae – family USDA zone 4 to 10
Distinguishing characteristics	Leaves are pinnate, divided, and deeply dissected into tight segments Stem has rough coarse hairs Plant produces umbels of small white flowers
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Root vegetable is edible and can be processed as a herbal coffee substitute Can cause skin irritation upon contact with the milky sap of the plant Very fast and strong when spreading and growing

Sometimes known as Queen Anne’s Lace, this wild root vegetable can be bothersome if left alone. Despite its dainty cluster of attractive white flowers, this weed can easily take over yards and recovering grasslands.

It can be removed by hand, although herbicides are more effective. The key reason why you should remove this herb growing is that it is poisonous for people when they eat them, and even to animals when they ingest this herb.

6. Stinking Chamomile

Plant information	Anthemis cotula – scientific name Asteraceae – family USDA zone 4 to 8
Distinguishing characteristics	Leaves are alternate, slightly hairy, deeply divided, and pointy Crushed leaves will emit a strong, pungent, and foul odor Produces daisy-like flowers in white, yellow, and orange colors.
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Has traditional medicinal properties to treat asthma, cold, and fever Foliage may cause irritation in sensitive skin on humans An invasive noxious weed due to aggressive spread

Every white flower on this plant is very attractive, although the plant itself can be a bit hard to control. As one of the more common weeds in North America, the stinking chamomile may be potentially toxic to animals when ingested.

On the same note, be mindful, because these flowers have the ability to spread so well and to bloom during spring. Most of the time, they are used for their medicinal usage, a sit has different healing properties, but if you would like to get rid of them, small clusters can be removed by hand, although herbicides are better when the weed population is large. Make sure to be able to identify the chamomile plant and not confuse it with similar ones.

7. Procumbent Pearlwort

Plant information	Sagina procumbens – scientific name Caryophyllaceae – family USDA zone 4 to 8
Distinguishing characteristics	Multiple slender branches that grow in all directions Leaves are opposite, linear, and absent of stipules Each small white flower has five sepals with five to ten stamens
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	No known reports of plant toxicity Considered as an invasive weed in many areas due to aggressive growth and spread

As one of the white flowering weeds, the procumbent pearlwort is found nearly in all green spaces. Each white flower that the plant produces is small, simple, and blooms in mass, and they can spread out in a swift way.

It can be difficult to remove when its population has multiplied, so herbicide use is often recommended because it would clear it out correctly and efficiently.

8. Common Daisy

Plant information	Bellis perennis – scientific name Asteraceae – family USDA zone 3 to 9
Distinguishing characteristics	Flat rosette growth of small, spoon-like dark green leaves Small white flower with yellow button centers and thin white petals Flowers can be single or double
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, cold, and headache No known reports of plant toxicity Would thrive and grow so fast in the right conditions

Considered one of the better flowering weeds in most gardens, the common daisy is not as unwelcome as other weed flowers would seem. On the contrary, these are quite beautiful, in terms of how they grow and the vibrancy that they add with their single or double flowers.

This probably has to do with the plant’s attractive white flower, as well as its young leaves, which are edible. However, if this plant has taken over your garden, you can get rid of it by using herbicides. There are many daisy-like plants out there so be sure not to get confused.

9. Meadow Buttercup

Plant information	Ranunculus acris – scientific name Ranunculaceae – family USDA zone 3 to 8
Distinguishing characteristics	Three toothed, dark green leaves with pale patches Stems and leaves are slightly hairy Flowers are usually yellow, although some cultivars produce white flowers
Growing conditions	Moist, well-draining soil Full sun to partial sun Regular watering schedules
Associated issues	Parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism and pain Large ingested quantities can be toxic to humans and animals One of the fastest spreading weeds

Similar to the creeping buttercup, the meadow buttercup tends to produce yellow flowers. However, some cultivars have a recessive gene that causes them to produce white blooms.

These are the types of weeds that can help with soil erosion but can easily take over open spaces, which means that getting rid of them is a necessary task to be accomplished, as they will grow strongly if they aren’t dealt with.

Conclusion

A white flower often represents purity, but not when it comes from noxious or invasive weeds. With the plants listed above, you now know if the weeds growing in your yard are harmless or not. Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve learned so far:

• Some weeds can cause minor to severe skin irritation to humans and animals. They are often welcome in any garden, but the plant itself may not always be beneficial.
• Other weeds can have beneficial properties when it comes to traditional medicines or as attractants to various pollinating insects.
• There will be weeds that are edible while others can cause serious health issues.
• Weeds can be easily pulled out by hand if they are few in number.
• For larger weed populations, it’s best to treat them with recommended herbicides.

Remember, a white flower on a plant doesn’t always mean it’s a beneficial plant. Do you have any other weeds in mind? Let us know in the comments below!