11 Weeds With White Flowers + Pictures and Growing Guides (2024)

Each season, my garden opens up a symphony of colors, from the cultivated blooms I’ve nurtured with care to the unexpected guests that never fail to surprise. Among these uninvited beauties are the white flowering weeds that often spark curiosity and, often, admiration.

Over the years I’ve developed an appreciation for these weeds as the busy bees bustle by taking pollen from each tiny cluster of white flowers. It’s this careful dance between the cultivated and the wildflowers in my garden that truly transforms this naturescape. So, ditch the trowel and stick around to see why these weeds are best kept unfettered.

1. Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

The Common Boneset plant will produce white flowers in the summer season. When in bloom, these flowers grow up to six feet tall and up to four feet wide.

The great thing about the Common Boneset is that it’s relatively disease-free. The only thing you risk is scorched leaves if the soil dries up. However, this is easy to combat with regular watering.

2. Mayweed – German Chamomile (Matricaria)

Do you like daisies? Do you wish you could add more to your garden? If so, you may want to consider adding Mayweed.

This daisy weed produces white blooms with a bright yellow center. They add a touch of whimsy to any landscape!

A relatively low-maintenance plant, Mayweed is considered to be an invasive weed that flowers. It doesn’t require any fertilization to grow or spread.

3. Wild Madder (Galium mollugo)

Keep in mind that Wild Madder prefers to be consistently moist. It does not do well if planted in a dry environment.

In regards to propagation, the Wild Madder plant doesn’t really need it as it can reproduce on its own. However, if you do wish to propagate, you can do so during the spring season or any time during its growing season.

4. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

This graceful, white wildflower makes its presence known with its large clusters of white flowers. This is a great plant to compliment the rest of your garden with.

Yarrow is also very low maintenance, since in the summer, you only need to water it once a month after the root system is established.

Although this plant can be labeled as a weed, chickweed features lovely white flowers that make it a welcome addition to any garden instead of the eyesore that most weeds are.

Best of all, this beautiful lawn plant can be seen all year round. Whether you’re growing winter perennials or summer perennials, here are some facts about chickweed you should know:

6. Queen Anne’s Lace – Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)

Believe it or not, this next entry is related to the same carrots you eat. While they might not be orange vegetables, they are part of the same family of plants.

These flowers look like baby’s breath in the fact that they have small white clusters. As such, these make beautiful cut flowers to add to your home. If you want a big white ball of flowers, fertilize every two or three weeks. This will yield the best results.

7. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

As another gorgeous white flower, you can add to your garden, the white clover is a perennial that boasts round heads and lush green leaves.

This common weed also has a bit of pink on it’s petals. Clover not only attracts bees and butterflies but also provides good forage for livestock while fixing nitrogen into your garden soil.

8. Wild Violet (Violaceae)

Do you already have weeds with purple flowers in your garden? Are you looking to add some white ones? If so, you may want to consider the Wild Violet.

Wild violets are not just pretty; they are also edible. Their flowers and young leaves are not only safe to eat but are often used to elevate salads and side dishes in high end restaurants. If you have wild violets growing in your garden count yourself lucky!

9. Fleabane (Erigeron glaucus)

Fleabane comes from the family of Asters so it’s no wonder the flowers look like little daisies. Since it’s a wildflower native to North America, it’s vital to the ecosystem, providing food and shelter for bugs and pollinators.

Best of all, Fleabane doesn’t really require a lot of upkeep giving it the weed-like stature it’s known for. Water it once every week or two once established and you’re all set.

10. Common Nettle (Urtica dioica)

The Common Nettle has been a treasured plant for centuries due to it’s nutrition profile and use in creating textiles. This plant is easy to grow and maintain as it will rapidly spread across your lawn – and probably that of your neighbor’s.

When handling the Common Nettle, be sure to wear thick gardening gloves as the stalks will leave a nasty prickle. I’ve been burned a few times trying to remove this stubborn weed from my garden beds.

11. Birdeye Pearlwort (Sagina procumbens)

Birdeye Pearlwort has small white flowers and foliage that resembles moss. Due to its weed-like nature, Birdeye Pearlwort makes a great ground cover if you’re looking for an alternative to grass.

Furthermore, they tend to gravitate toward moist environments, which is why they are often found along seasides. Just remember that this weed grows best when exposed to soil that is rich in organic matter, so add a little bit of compost around the base if you’re looking to elevate your landscape with Birdeye Pearlwort.

Final Thoughts

Before you head over to Google to type in “weed killer” in the search bar, it may be a good idea to identify common weeds in your garden to see if they should stay.

Weeds like the ones on this list are often native wildflowers that attract pollinators. Even with little upkeep, these plants all add visual interest to your landscape.