11 Types of WHITE Wildflowers in Arizona! (2025)
Did you find a WHITE wildflower in Arizona?
If so, I’m sure you’re wondering what type of wildflower you found! Luckily, you can use this guide to help you identify it. 🙂
Please be aware that today I’m ONLY listing and focusing on the most COMMON plants. There are so many species, varieties, and subspecies that it would be impossible to name them all. But if you want to dive deeper into all the white wildflowers in Arizona, check out this field guide!
Here are 11 different WHITE wildflowers found in Arizona!
#1. Wild Strawberry
- Fragaria vesca
Also known as: Common Strawberry, Mountain Strawberry, Thick Leaved Wild Strawberry, Virginia Strawberry, Scarlet Strawberry
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 4-7 in (10-18 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
The commercial strawberries we enjoy today were hybridized from Wild Strawberry, a white wildflower that grows natively in Arizona. You can find this plant in disturbed habitats, meadows, river shores, woodlands, and even roadsides.
White, five-petalled flowers carpet the ground in spring where Wild Strawberries grow. The fruit of Wild Strawberries is much smaller than the ones we cultivate in gardens, but they are just as nutritious and tasty.
Birds and mammals also enjoy eating the tart fruits of the Wild Strawberry. In addition, the flower blooms attract bees, butterflies, and insect pollinators. In a garden setting, you can use this plant as a ground cover or for erosion control.
#2. English Plantain
- Plantago lanceolata
Also known as: Ribwort Plantain, Lanceleaf Indianwheat, Ribgrass
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9a
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 4-20 in (10-51 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
The English Plantain is an introduced white wildflower in Arizona, originally native to Europe and Asia.
It’s one of the most recognizable lawn weeds with its long, hairy, flowering spikes. These spikes contain small and inconspicuous white flowers.
You can spot English Plantain growing in disturbed habitats, dry meadows, grazing pastures, and roadsides. Its flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles, while songbirds eat their seeds.
Interestingly, English Plantain can adapt to different conditions depending on how humans try to eradicate it! For example, this plant naturally grows in tall stalks, but if the area where it grows is frequently mowed, it will grow low to the ground to avoid being cut.
#3. Hoary Alyssum
- Berteroa incana
Also known as: False Hoary Madwort, Hoary Berteroa, Hoary Alison
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3b-7
- Life Cycle: Biennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 12-24 in (30-61 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Midsummer
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Hoary Alyssum is an invasive weed that you might find growing in pastures, riverbanks, roadsides, and lawns. Not only does it compete with native plants, but it can also be fatal to horses that eat it.
To identify this white wildflower in Arizona, look for small white flowers on branching stems.
Each petal is deeply notched, so it might look like there are eight petals instead of four on every flower. The green leaves are covered with gray hairs.
Although bees, wasps, and other insects will eat Hoary Alyssum pollen, you’re better off killing this weed before it takes over your property. It can survive cold winters and hot summers. In addition, it thrives in poor soils and spreads prolifically, making it incredibly difficult to eradicate.
#4. White Clover
- Trifolium repens
Also known as: Dutch Clover, Shamrock, Honeysuckle Grass
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-10a
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 4-6 in (10-15 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
White Clover is native to Europe and Asia, but this white wildflower is considered a naturalized species in Arizona. It grows so well that it can take over lawns, roadsides, pastures, and waste areas. Fortunately, however, White Clover doesn’t usually compete with native vegetation!
From spring to fall, White Clover blooms with an abundance of creamy white, rounded flowers. You might be familiar with its green leaves, which typically have three leaflets. But if you find one with four, you can consider yourself lucky! 🙂
Interestingly, all parts of the White Clover are edible. You can use the dried flowers to make tea or the young leaves in a salad. You can also grind the flowers and seed pods to be sprinkled as a seasoning on cooked food. It has a subtle vanilla-like flavor.
#5. Indian Hemp
- Apocynum cannabinum
Also known as: Dogbane, Hemp Dogbane, Prairie Dogbane, Amy Root, Rheumatism Root, Wild Cotton
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3b-11
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 24-60 in (61-152 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Spring to Summer
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Despite being native to North America, this white wildflower is considered an aggressive weed in Arizona.
You’ll likely find it in dry, rocky woods, meadows, and prairies. Unfortunately, it also thrives on farms where it’s known to reduce the yield of corn, soybeans, and other crops.
In addition to its invasive nature, all parts of Indian Hemp are highly toxic to humans, dogs, and livestock. Avoid touching the milky sap, which can cause blisters on your skin. Its stiff, reddish stems and bushy lance-shaped leaves will help you identify this plant.
The small white flowers are rich with nectar, so don’t be surprised to see lots of butterflies and moths where Indian Hemp grows.
#6. Yarrow
- Achillea millefolium
Also known as: Bloodwort, Carpenter’s Weed, Devil’s Nettle
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 24-36 in (61-91 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Summer
Planting Yarrow in your garden will reward you with abundant flowers that grow in clusters. They have small feathery leaves that look like ferns, and their scent might remind you of chrysanthemums (mums).
Some Yarrow plants were introduced from Europe in colonial times. However, there are many native subspecies of this white wildflower in Arizona. Together, they form colorful hybrids that will attract bees, wasps, beetles, moths, and butterflies to your garden.
Yarrow plants naturally occur in disturbed areas, grasslands, open forests, and roadsides. They can tolerate drought and survive in less than perfect conditions.
#7. Catnip
- Nepeta cataria
Also known as: Catswort, Catmint, Field Balm
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9a
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 24-36 in (61-91 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Spring to Fall
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Catnip is a famous plant with a long history of medicinal and culinary uses. Of course, you might know of Catnip as a recreational stimulant for cats. As a member of the Mint family, it has aromatic leaves that can repel mosquitoes, cockroaches, and termites.
Catnip is native to Europe and Asia, but this white wildflower is naturalized in Arizona.
You can find it growing on roadsides, streams, waste grounds, dry banks, and fields. The triangular, veiny leaves and the small white or purple spotted flowers will help you recognize this plant.
Bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and many pollinators love the nectar-laden flowers of Catnip. In addition, you can expect goldfinches and other birds to eat the seeds in the fall. Catnip grows best in full sun and well-drained soils.
- RELATED: The 18 MOST Common Birds in Arizona!
#8. Queen Anne’s Lace
- Daucus carota
Also known as: Wild Carrot, Bird’s Nest, Bishop’s Lace
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-11a
- Life Cycle: Annual or Biennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 12-48 in (30-122 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Queen Anne’s Lace was introduced to North America by early European settlers. This white wildflower is an aggressive weed in many areas, invading grasslands, meadows, roadsides, and degraded prairies.
Interestingly, this wildflower is the ancestor of domesticated carrots that we cultivate and eat. Also known as the Wild Carrot, it is edible when young, but the roots quickly become woody and fibrous as they age.
To identify this plant, look for two-foot-tall umbels with small white flowers and hairy stems. Queen Anne’s Lace adapts to most soils and can be difficult to pull up from the ground. It produces and spreads seeds prolifically, so it’s best to prevent it from taking root in your planned garden.
#9. Whorled Milkweed
- Asclepias verticillata
Also known as: Eastern Whorled Milkweed, Horsetail Milkweed
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9a
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 12-36 in (30-91 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Whorled Milkweed is a single-stemmed perennial wildflower with flat-topped clusters of 7-20 small flowers. The fragrant white blooms are common in dry prairies, open woods, fields, and roadsides.
If you find this native white wildflower in Arizona, you’re likely to also see hummingbirds, bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, skippers, and beetles. In addition, it’s an especially important food source for Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.
Although Whorled Milkweed spreads quickly through underground rhizomes, it’s not considered invasive, so it’s a perfect choice for your garden! It stands well against drought, easily self-seeds, and tolerates most soil types.
#10. Oxeye Daisy
- Leucanthemum vulgare
Also known as: Dog Daisy, Marguerite, White Weed
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8a
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 12-24 in (30-61 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Spring to Summer
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Oxeye Daisy has beautiful white petals surrounding yellow disc-shaped centers. Unfortunately, this wildflower is from Europe and is an invasive species in Arizona. Its seeds and underground rhizomes spread aggressively, colonizing native ecosystems. Today, you can find it growing in grassy fields, meadows, disturbed sites, and open woodlands.
Although the plant is self-fertilizing, bees, flies, beetles, moths, and butterflies help pollinate the Oxeye Daisy.
#11. Pokeweed
- Phytolacca americana
Also known as: American Pokeweed, Great Pokeweed, Poke Sallet, Pokeberry, Pigeonberry, Dragonberry, Inkberry, Red Ink Plant, Garnet, Scoke
Growing Information
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8a
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Approximate Mature Size: 96-120 in (244-305 cm) tall
- Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
- Sun Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Pokeweed is a tall, branching plant with long pinkish racemes (flower stalks) holding small white flowers. Despite its unique and attractive look, Pokeweed is a troublesome weed that self-seeds easily and spreads aggressively in the garden.
Think twice before touching this plant if you come across it in pastures, woodland openings, and wastelands. Its poisonous berries and roots can cause vomiting, a burning sensation in the mouth, respiratory failure, and even death in extreme cases.
Although Pokeweed is poisonous to humans, dogs, and livestock, birds are somehow unaffected by it. Many species, including the Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, and Cedar Waxwing, love to eat the berries and seeds.
Do you want to learn about ALL the wildflowers in Arizona? Check out this field guide!
Which of these white wildflowers have you seen before in Arizona?
Leave a comment below!
