13 House Plants With White Flowers (and How to Get Them to Bloom)

A windowsill with crisp white blooms against green leaves makes a room feel calmer, brighter and a little more finished, and house plants with white flowers do that better than almost anything else you can grow indoors.

White petals also pick up the low winter light in a way darker flowers cannot.

The short version: Peace lilies, moth orchids, white African violets, Christmas cactus and hoyas are the most reliable white bloomers for indoor growers.

Most of them need bright indirect light to flower, and several need a cool or dark rest period each fall to set buds.

This guide covers 13 white-flowering houseplants, which ones are easy, fragrant, low-light tolerant or pet-safe, and exactly how to get each one to bloom again.

At a Glance

Factor	What it needs
Light	Bright indirect light for most; peace lily and African violet handle medium light
Water	Even moisture for most; let succulents like kalanchoe and Christmas cactus dry partly
Humidity	40 to 60 percent; gardenia and stephanotis want the higher end
Temperature	65 to 75°F days; several need cooler fall nights to set buds
Soil	Well-draining mixes; bark mix for orchids, acidic mix for gardenias
Pet safety	Seven of the 13 are non-toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA
Difficulty	Easy (spider plant, peace lily) to demanding (gardenia, stephanotis)

Which Houseplants Have White Flowers?

Thirteen common houseplants produce reliable white blooms indoors, ranging from everyday foliage plants to seasonal bulbs. The two below are often bought as gift plants, then kept and coaxed into flowering again.

Two things make white bloomers much easier to manage: a full-spectrum LED grow light for dark rooms and winter months, and a balanced or slightly phosphorus-heavy liquid fertilizer labeled for flowering plants. A simple outlet timer for the grow light helps too.

If you like bold color as well, pair a few of these with house plants with red flowers for a classic contrast on a shelf or holiday table.

White Amaryllis

White amaryllis grows from a large bulb and sends up a thick stalk topped with three to five trumpet-shaped flowers, usually in winter. Varieties like pure white or white with green throats look striking in a plain pot.

Give it a bright window and turn the pot every few days so the stalk grows straight.

After flowering, keep the leaves growing in bright light through summer, then give the bulb 8 to 10 weeks of cool, dry rest around 50 to 55°F before restarting it.

White Calla Lily

White calla lilies grow from rhizomes and produce elegant, funnel-shaped spathes on upright stems. Indoors, they flower best in bright light, such as a few inches from an east window or a little farther back from a south or west one.

Keep the soil evenly moist while the plant is in leaf. Once the foliage yellows after blooming, reduce water and let the rhizome rest for about two months in a cool, dark spot before repotting and watering again.

Easy White-Flowering Plants for Beginners

Moth orchids, white kalanchoe and spider plants are the most forgiving white bloomers for new growers. They tolerate occasional missed waterings and typical apartment conditions better than fussier flowering plants.

If you are still building your collection, my list of the best indoor plants to buy covers other low-effort options that pair well with these three.

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)

White Phalaenopsis orchids hold their flowers for two to three months, which makes them one of the best values among flowering houseplants. They grow in chunky bark or sphagnum moss, not regular potting soil.

Water when the roots inside a clear pot turn silvery and the mix feels nearly dry, usually every 7 to 10 days. Bright indirect light from an east window is ideal; direct afternoon sun can scorch the leaves.

To trigger new flower spikes, give the plant a few weeks of nights about 10 to 15°F cooler than daytime temperatures. A spot near a cool window in fall often handles this naturally, as long as leaves do not touch cold glass.

White Kalanchoe

White kalanchoe is a compact succulent covered in dense clusters of small, long-lasting flowers. It is usually sold in bloom in late winter and spring.

Plant it in a cactus or succulent mix and water only when the top inch or two of soil is dry. Overwatering is the main way kalanchoes fail indoors, especially in winter.

Kalanchoe is a short-day plant, so it needs about 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night for roughly six weeks to rebloom. A closet or a box placed over it in the evening works if room lights stay on late.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are grown mostly for their arching striped leaves, but mature plants send out long stems with small, star-shaped white flowers. Those same stems later produce the baby plantlets spider plants are known for.

They tolerate medium light and a range of watering habits, though they flower more in bright indirect light. A slightly snug pot also encourages flowering stems sooner than an oversized one.

Sophia’s tip: If your spider plant’s leaf tips turn brown, switch to filtered or distilled water and keep it a few feet from forced-air vents. Fluoride and dry heat are the usual causes indoors, not underwatering.

Fragrant White Bloomers

Gardenia, stephanotis, winter jasmine and hoya are the white-flowering houseplants with the strongest scent. Most of them need more light and humidity than basic foliage plants, so place them thoughtfully.

Gardenia

Gardenias have glossy dark leaves and creamy white flowers with a rich, sweet fragrance. They are beautiful but demanding, and they are often considered the hardest plant on this list.

They need high humidity, acidic soil and steady temperatures around 65 to 70°F during the day with slightly cooler nights. Use an acidic potting mix and water with room-temperature water to keep the root zone stable.

Gardenias drop their buds when moved, when the soil dries out or when they sit near a radiator or cold draft. Pick a bright spot near an east or south window, then leave the plant there.

Stephanotis (Madagascar Jasmine)

Stephanotis is a twining vine with thick, waxy leaves and clusters of tubular, star-shaped white flowers. The scent is strong and sweet, and the flowers are a traditional choice for wedding bouquets.

Train it on a small trellis or hoop in a pot. It needs bright light, including a few hours of gentle direct sun, along with moderate to high humidity and even moisture through spring and summer.

In winter, keep it cooler, around 55 to 60°F, and water less. That rest period helps the plant produce more flower clusters the following season.

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)

Jasminum polyanthum is a vining jasmine sold in late winter, often trained around a hoop. Pink buds open into masses of small white flowers with a powerful fragrance that can fill a room.

It needs bright light and consistently moist soil while growing. Many indoor plants that fail to rebloom simply stay too warm in fall.

To set buds, jasmine needs a cool period around 40 to 50°F in fall for several weeks. An unheated enclosed porch or a cold room near a drafty window can work, as long as temperatures stay above freezing.

Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)

Hoya carnosa produces round clusters of star-shaped flowers that look almost like porcelain. White and pale pink forms are common, and the blooms are especially fragrant in the evening.

Hoyas like bright indirect light, a chunky well-draining mix and watering only when the soil is mostly dry. They often bloom more readily when slightly root-bound.

Flowers form on short stubby stems called spurs, and hoyas rebloom on the same spurs year after year. Do not cut off old flower stalks after the blooms fade.

Sophia’s tip: Mark your hoya’s spurs with a small twist tie when you repot or move it. That keeps you from accidentally trimming the stems that will carry next year’s flowers.

White Flowers for Low and Medium Light

Peace lily, white anthurium and white African violet are the best white bloomers for rooms without a sunny window. They will live in medium light, though all three flower more with brighter indirect light.

For true low light, a grow light makes the biggest difference. If you have afternoon sun instead, check my guide to plants for a west-facing window for bloomers that handle stronger light.

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are the classic white-flowering houseplant, with glossy leaves and white spathes that rise above the foliage. They tolerate medium light better than nearly any other plant on this list.

They droop dramatically when thirsty and perk up within hours after watering, which makes them easy to read. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and avoid letting the pot sit in standing water.

A peace lily in a dim corner may never flower. Move it a few feet from an east or north window, or within 6 to 8 feet of a bright south or west window, and blooming usually improves.

White Anthurium

White anthuriums have waxy, heart-shaped spathes with a central spike, and each bloom can last six to eight weeks. They flower almost year-round when conditions are right.

Grow them in a chunky, airy mix similar to an orchid or aroid blend. They like bright indirect light, steady warmth above 60°F and humidity above 50 percent.

In winter, forced-air heat and dry air often cause brown spathe edges. A small humidifier nearby and a spot away from heating vents keep the flowers cleaner.

White African Violet

White African violets stay small, fit on a narrow sill and can flower several times a year. They are ideal for apartments with limited window space.

Give them bright indirect light, such as a few inches back from a north or east window. Water from below with room-temperature water, since cold water on the leaves leaves pale spots.

They do well under grow lights placed about 10 to 12 inches above the leaves. Keep temperatures between 65 and 75°F and use a light, airy African violet mix.

Pet-Safe Plants With White Flowers

According to the ASPCA, seven plants on this list are non-toxic to cats and dogs: moth orchid, African violet, Christmas cactus, hoya, Jasminum polyanthum, stephanotis and spider plant. Peace lily, anthurium, calla lily, kalanchoe and amaryllis are toxic, and gardenia is mildly toxic.

Non-toxic does not mean pets should snack freely. Large amounts of any plant can upset a pet’s stomach, so hang or shelve plants your cat likes to chew.

If your home has limited sun as well as pets, my list of low light plants that are safe for cats adds more options.

White Christmas Cactus

White Christmas cactus produces tiered, satiny flowers at the tips of its flat, segmented stems. It is non-toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA, which makes it a strong holiday choice for pet owners.

Despite the name, it is a forest cactus from humid regions. Use a well-draining mix, water when the top inch is dry and give it bright indirect light.

To bloom, it needs long nights of about 12 to 14 hours of darkness and cool nights of 55 to 65°F in fall. Avoid moving it once buds form, since it drops buds easily.

Sophia’s tip: In fall, keep a Christmas cactus in a room you rarely light at night, such as a spare bedroom. Even a lamp switched on for an hour each evening can delay buds for weeks.

How to Get Indoor Plants to Bloom Again

Most white-flowering houseplants stop blooming indoors because they get too little light, the wrong seasonal cue or inconsistent care. Fixing light first, then adding any needed cool or dark period, solves most reblooming problems.

Give Them More Light

Light is the main fuel for flowers. A plant that grows leaves but never blooms usually needs to move closer to a window, ideally within 2 to 4 feet of an east window or a bit farther back from a south or west one.

Light drops sharply with each foot away from the glass. In Chicago-style winters with short, gray days, many plants need supplemental light to keep flowering.

If you add a grow light, timing matters as much as brightness. My guide on how long to keep grow lights on explains daily hours for flowering plants, and remember that short-day plants like Christmas cactus and kalanchoe need dark nights in fall.

Match the Seasonal Cue

Several plants on this list need a specific signal before they set buds:

• Christmas cactus: 12 to 14 hours of darkness and 55 to 65°F nights in fall
• Kalanchoe: about 14 hours of darkness nightly for around six weeks
• Phalaenopsis: a few weeks of nights 10 to 15°F cooler than days
• Jasminum polyanthum: several weeks around 40 to 50°F in fall
• Amaryllis and calla lily: a dry, cool dormant period after foliage fades

Feed and Water Consistently

Feed flowering plants every two to four weeks during active growth with a diluted fertilizer made for blooms. Stop or reduce feeding during rest periods and in the darkest winter months.

Uneven watering causes bud drop in gardenias, Christmas cactus and stephanotis. Check soil with your finger rather than watering on a fixed calendar, since radiators and dry winter air speed up drying.

Protect Plants From Drafts and Heat

Keep blooming plants away from heating vents, radiators and AC registers. Sudden temperature swings and dry blasts of air are among the most common causes of dropped buds indoors.

Leaves touching cold window glass in winter can also chill a plant. Leave a few inches of space between foliage and the pane on frigid nights.

Comparison Table of All 13 House Plants With White Flowers

This table compares light, bloom season, fragrance, pet safety and difficulty so you can choose the right plants for your space. Use it to match plants to your windows and household.

Plant	Light	Main bloom season	Fragrant	Pet safety (ASPCA)	Difficulty
Peace lily	Medium to bright indirect	Spring to summer, repeat	Faint	Toxic	Easy
Moth orchid	Bright indirect	Winter to spring	No	Non-toxic	Easy
White anthurium	Bright indirect	Year-round	No	Toxic	Moderate
White African violet	Medium to bright indirect	Year-round	No	Non-toxic	Moderate
White Christmas cactus	Bright indirect	Late fall to winter	No	Non-toxic	Easy
Hoya carnosa	Bright indirect	Spring to summer	Yes	Non-toxic	Moderate
Jasminum polyanthum	Bright, some sun	Late winter to spring	Strong	Non-toxic	Moderate
Gardenia	Bright, some sun	Spring to summer	Strong	Mildly toxic	Hard
Stephanotis	Bright, some sun	Spring to summer	Strong	Non-toxic	Hard
White calla lily	Bright	Spring to summer	No	Toxic	Moderate
White kalanchoe	Bright	Late winter to spring	No	Toxic	Easy
White amaryllis	Bright	Winter	No	Toxic	Easy
Spider plant	Medium to bright indirect	Spring to summer	No	Non-toxic	Easy

Your Next Steps

• Check which direction your brightest window faces and measure how far your plant sits from the glass.
• Pick one or two plants from the table that match your light and your pets.
• Add a full-spectrum LED grow light on a timer if your rooms are dim in winter.
• Mark your calendar in early fall for cool nights or long dark periods for Christmas cactus, kalanchoe, orchids and jasmine.
• Move flowering plants at least 3 feet away from radiators, heating vents and AC registers.
• Start feeding with a diluted bloom fertilizer in spring and stop during rest periods.

Common Questions About House Plants With White Flowers