shrub with white trumpet shaped flowers

The Trumpet Call of White Flowering Shrubs

Trumpet-shaped blooms herald the arrival of spring and summer in gardens across the country Their unique floral forms resemble musical instruments, giving them an elegant, almost regal appearance White trumpet flowers stand out beautifully against green foliage, adding a touch of class and simplicity. If you’re looking to incorporate this stunning flower shape into your landscape, there are several shrub options that produce these distinctive white blooms.

Angel’s Trumpet: A Tropical Showstopper

One of the most popular shrubs with white trumpet shaped flowers is angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia species). This tropical plant is easy to grow in frost-free climates, where it can reach towering heights of 10-15 feet. During summer and fall, it bears enormous flowers up to 12 inches long that dangle from the branches like trumpets. The blooms are usually white or cream colored.

Angel’s trumpet prefers rich soil, frequent watering, and bright indirect light. Give it plenty of room to spread out. Because of its large size, angel’s trumpet is ideal for the back of borders or as a specimen planting. It also looks beautiful in large containers on patios and decks. The flowers release a lovely, sweet fragrance in the evenings that perfumes the garden.

While stunning, angel’s trumpet is highly toxic and should be planted with caution around kids and pets It also requires overwintering indoors in colder climates For gardeners in zone 9 and up, however, this is a wonderful shrub that lends a tropical flair.

Crossvine: A Native Trumpet Flower

Native to the southeastern United States, crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is another candidate for gorgeous white trumpet blooms. It blooms in late winter and early spring, bearing tubular white flowers with purple throats. The blooms have a distinct trumpet shape and curve gently downward off the vine.

Crossvine is a clinging woody vine that can be grown on arbors, trellises, and fences. It climbs using tendrils and can reach lengths of up to 50 feet. The foliage is semi-evergreen in warmer areas. Crossvine does well in full sun to partial shade and requires little care once established. It’s resistant to pests and deer usually leave it alone.

In addition to its showy spring flowers, crossvine provides interest with its reddish bark and unique seed pods. Hummingbirds flock to the nectar-rich blooms. Plant crossvine on a trellis or archway near a deck or patio so you can fully enjoy its flowers and ambiance. It also looks lovely rambling over an old fence or garden gate.

Valerian: A Cottage Garden Classic

Though not technically a shrub, valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial plant that produces clusters of small, white, trumpet shaped flowers on spikes reaching 3-4 feet tall. Its blooms have an adorable trumpet form with flared funnel-shaped ends. The flowers appear from late spring through summer and carry a fresh, floral scent.

Valerian does best in full sun to part shade and average, well-drained soil. It prefers consistent moisture but is fairly drought tolerant once established. The fern-like foliage provides lovely texture and backdrop to the dainty white blooms. Plant valerian towards the back of flower beds and borders or use it as part of a wildflower meadow. It also looks beautiful alongside ponds and streams.

In addition to being ornamental, valerian has a long history of use as an herbal sedative. However, some people find the scent unpleasant. Butterflies adore visiting the blooms for nectar. Valerian spreads readily by both seed and rhizomes, so take care when planting it around less vigorous plants.

Moonflower: Nighttime White Magic

For stunning white blooms in the evening, consider planting moonflower (Ipomoea alba). This fast growing annual vine opens huge, trumpet shaped flowers at dusk that unfurl a delicious, sweet fragrance. The blooms measure up to 6 inches across and remain open until touched by the morning sun. They are pure white and absolutely beautiful.

Give moonflower a sturdy support like a trellis or chain link fence to climb. It can reach heights of 15-25 feet over the course of a summer. Moonflower thrives in hot, humid conditions and should be planted after the last frost once night temperatures remain above 50°F. Site it in full sun for the largest number of blooms.

In addition to lighting up gardens after dark, moonflower attracts night pollinators like moths and bats. Its large blooms and quick growth make it ideal for covering unsightly structures and creating summer garden focal points. Try interplanting moonflower with Moonflower is a wonderful choice for white trumpet flowers that come alive as the sun goes down.

Brugmansia: Endless White Trumpet Varieties

I mentioned angel’s trumpet previously, but wanted to highlight the Brugmansia genus specifically. This group of shrubs contains around 20 species that are native to South America. In addition to the popular white flowering types, Brugmansia selections produce blooms in shades of orange, yellow, pink, peach, and red.

All share the large, downward hanging trumpet flowers that give the plant its common name. Brugmansia can reach heights between 5-15 feet depending on the variety. Most prefer full sun and rich, moist soil. Regular feeding and watering during the growing season encourages prolific flowering. Pinching out the stem tips promotes bushier growth.

Brugmansia offers endless options for unique, trumpet-shaped white blooms. ‘Charles Grimaldis’ has huge creamy white double flowers, while ‘Frosty Pink’ bears abundant soft pink blooms with yellow throats. For bicolored blooms, try ‘Inca Gold’ which has pale yellow flowers edged in crimson. Site Brugmansia near seating areas so you can fully appreciate the stunning flowers.

Angel’s Tears: Weeping White Wonders

If you like the look of weeping blooms, check out angel’s tears (Brugmansia x candida). This hybrid Brugmansia cultivar produces masses of large, pendulous white flowers that dangle a foot or more below the branches. It has an open, spreading form that exhibits the flowers beautifully.

Angel’s tears does best in zones 9-11 where it can be grown outside year round. Provide sun to light shade and rich soil. To encourage even more blooms, pinch back the tips of each branch when the plant is 1-2 feet tall. This shrub flowers almost continuously once established. The flowers have a subtle lemony scent.

Situate angel’s tears where its waterfall of blooms can be admired up close. Plant it next to a deck or patio or use as a focal point in beds and borders. The cascading white flowers look gorgeous illuminated at night, so place it where it can be enjoyed after dark. Just take care to site it away from high traffic areas since the branches are brittle.

Create Striking Displays

As you can see, there are numerous options for growing shrubs with elegant white trumpet-shaped flowers. Work them into sunny beds and borders for standout blooms. Use them to add vertical interest against fences and trellises. Plant white trumpet flowers near patios, decks, and walkways where their beauty can be appreciated up close. Night bloomers like angel’s trumpet and moonflower lend mystery and magic when placed by outdoor living areas.

With proper placement and care, shrubs with white trumpet flowers will flourish in your garden, grabbing attention with their stunning floral displays. They attract pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies while scenting the air with their divine fragrance. Let these striking blooms put on a showstopping performance this growing season by incorporating one or more of these flowering shrubs into your landscape.