would help if you stated area where you live so posters can recommend that that will survive where you live.

How shady is the area? You said north facing, but is it overhung by trees as well as shaded by the building? Does it get some sun at any point during the day? If not, you are restricted to shade-loving plants and might want to expand your color palette. Do you know anything about the pH, moisture level, and texture (clay, sand, loam, rocky, etc) of your soil?

There are white flowered astilbes that like shade. Many hostas have white flowers and/or white variegation to the leaves. If you have some sunnier spots in the spring before the trees leaf out, look at crocus, white hyacinths, and white daffodils. If you have some spots that get at least 5 hours of sun, there are some shade-tolerant clematis, and if you choose one of the type 3 prunes, they can be cut back to a few buds per stem as soon as you get a few hard freezes so you don't have to look at dead vines in the winter.

Consider some of the hardier hydrangeas such as Annabelle or other forms of H. arborescens, or if you have a half day of sun somewhere, try one of the smaller H. paniculata such as Bobo, or Little Lime, or Little Lamb.

I'm northfacing. the area does have full sun part of the day and then light shadows. I now live in a Can zone 5a area so that is probably a zone 4 US.

I can discern and pick out the suitable plants from suggestions people have - so please don't worry if the plants are suitable for this climate. I'll make the judgement call. Just having moved I've no time to draw lists of what would work. I'm also on the go most of the time. Just having a list to review will help immensely.

NHbabs, hydrangeas do sound good. - that's late summer plants I could use. Astilbes for mid summer. I could do white tulips and daffodils for spring. Something to match up with the astilbes and then hydrangeas will bloom next. Anyone have ideas for fall plants?

are little lamb hydrangeas smaller than little lime? I do need something low growing. I'm planning to put in a tree or 2 on both side fences but the trees will be pleached to show their trunks. Beneath it would be the flowers so any low growing hydrangeas will work.

Some other perennials for shade that are or can be white flowered:

Hellebore spring

Acteae simplex or Acteae racemosa fall

Tiarella and Heucherella spring

Anemone: A. sylvstris (spring) along with Floral's suggestion of fall Japanese anemone; both can be overly vigorous spreaders via runners. Not sure if the Japanese anemones will be winter hardy for you - they are borderline here.

Variegated Solomon's Seal has creamy spring flowers but white variegation all season

Since you have sun, look at Caryopteris divaricata Snow Fairy which will give you white variegation all season long, and some years mine has blue flowers about now, but not every year.

Bobo is the smallest H. paniculata I know of. Little Lime and Little Lamb get to about 5' while Bobo is more like 3'-3 1/2'. H. paniculatas are fine in full sun this far north. Needing part shade, Annabelle(H. arborescens) is about 4', but it suckers so you would have to remove suckers annually.

White Siberian irises are a favorite of mine. Look at while Delphiniums and white foxgloves for summer spires.

I will again suggest white clematis. For fall, look at C. terniflora (sweet autumn) which shouldn't seed around problematically where you are since there isn't time for seeds to fully ripen, but I really like John Huxtable, blooming mid to late summer in my garden. C. terniflora might be too big for your space.

There are several white-flowering asters for fall - I know I have Lady in Black with dark foliage and little white flowers, but I also have another white (Bonningdale white) that has larger flowers, and Boltonia asteroides has zillions of tiny aster-like fall flowers - 'Snowbank' is white.

Thank you. I'm printing out your suggestions now.

When I think of spring and white, I think trillium and bloodroot. Hellebore, bleeding heart, white aquilegia, deutzia 'Nikko'. What about a white tree peony or a species peony that can take more shade?

There are even some really spectacular white dayliliesif you can put them in the sunniest part of the bed.

Chocolate joe pye can give a good poof of white in the fall. And I definitely second Flora with anemone for fall and white variegated hostas too! I don't see white hostas in gardens too much, but they really do brighten up a space.

How much room do you ultimately have? What trees are you planting?

A small native tree that is lovely is Halesia carolina 'UConn Wedding Bells', but IME it does set seed, so you'd need to do some weeding.

Also white-flowered primulas are nice for spring.

Piggybacking off T2D's suggestion of Deutzia 'Nikko', D. 'Chardonnay Pearls' has white flowers and chartreuse foliage.

thank I think i have a pretty good list to work on now. My space would probably be small. May be really tiny. Its' a challenging space but wonderful location. My backyard faces a national park and its going to be wild country. once I have the fence up and a patio or deck, I will plant trees and set flowerbeds on an angle to create an illusion of larger space. I am also working to packing the area with plants while not allowing the space to look like a jungle. The trees will be pleached to create a privacy screen. The fence will be painted a dark colour so the greens and whites will pop out. Beneath the trees would be the plants - all white flowering. I will contrast different floral shapes (daisies, spires, umbrells, etc). I will also add ground lighting so at night it will reflect against the white. I will also put in overhead strings of lights. I'm really excited to have this challenge. Thank you all for helping.

Anemone 'Honorine Joubert' is fall blooming. I am in northern Virginia and mine have not opened yet. I adore them. My pink ones (don't know their name) are already in full bloom. There are also white bloomimg hosta that are lovely. Completely white-leafed hosta don't seem survive over the years. Be sure to browse the hosta forum and the Hosta Library before buying. Naylor Creek, Bridgewood Gardens, New Hampshire Hostas, and Hallson are my favorite suppliers. If buying hosta locally, ask if they test for HVX (virus).

Your idea sounds lovely. You must promise to share pictures throughout the process and seasons!

I will. I'd have to restrain myself now. I tend to be thinking of one style but like someone weaving a cloth I start wondering what if I add one more colour?? But no, I'm going to strictly go for white blooms. A side thought.. I'm also thinking of putting in an apple tree or a cherry tree that I could dwarf - cordone so it remains low. Im not just looking to put in a moon garden but in teh small space I wish to plant a vegetable garden and a fruiting tree. Might be too much for a tiny little yard.. but we will see. I love a challenge.

Your positive attitude will take you and your ideas far. Good luck and enjoy.

Martha

White columbine, white bee balm...and sweet woodruff :)

One specific hosta to have is 'Blue Angel'.

tj

ianna- the apple sounds lovely. The Kuffle Creek website has wonderful videos on keeping apples and other fruits pruned for small spaces.

my favorite way to start spring-- Crocus Jeanne d'Arc

I love white flowers too! I have planted white hydrangea and pop John Paul roses. I like the above suggestion of white daffodils and white peony.