Plants that bloom in October in Zone 9 with white flowers

Acidanthera

Arching stems hold fragrant white blooms with a deep maroon throat. Peacock orchid, the elegant late-summer cousin of the bold gladiolus.

Angel's Trumpet

Huge pendant trumpets release intense evening fragrance over a long warm-season bloom.

Annual Vinca

Glossy-leaved heat champion (botanically unrelated to true Vinca minor) that blooms through humidity that wilts everything else.

Bougainvillea

Explosive cascades of papery magenta, hot pink, or coral bracts that smother walls, fences, and pergolas with nonstop color from spring through fall in zones 9 to 11.

Butterfly Bush

Long, arching flower wands that butterflies absolutely lose their minds over.

Cafe au Lait Dahlia

Dinner plate blooms up to 10 inches across in a creamy blush-beige tone florists have built entire wedding industries around.

Calibrachoa

Mini petunias that bloom nonstop in hanging baskets. Dozens of color options and no deadheading needed.

Chrysanthemum

The fall icon. Mounds of color when everything else is fading.

Colchicum

Crocus-like blooms appear in fall on bare stems without leaves. Plant them and forget them, they will surprise you every September.

Cosmos

Airy, dancing flowers on thread-thin stems. Effortless cottage garden charm.

Dahlia

Endless forms from dinner-plate to pompom. The obsession of flower farmers.

Fountain Grass

Arching, bottlebrush plumes that catch the light. Movement in the garden.

Gomphrena

Papery clover-shaped pom-poms on wiry stems. Drought-proof, deer-proof, and dries perfectly for winter arrangements.

Iceberg Rose

Pure white floribunda clusters that bloom non-stop from spring to frost. Among the most planted roses in the world and bulletproof in any climate.

Impatiens

The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.

Lantana

Multi-colored flower clusters that bloom relentlessly in brutal heat.

Lisianthus

Rose-like ruffled blooms with the vase life of a chrysanthemum. The flower farmer's secret weapon for high-end arrangements.

Maiden Grass

Narrow arching foliage creates elegant vase shapes topped with coppery pink plumes in fall.

Meyer Lemon

Sweetly scented white blossoms appear intermittently year-round and set thin-skinned lemons.

Miscanthus

Tall, graceful plumes that persist through winter. Living architecture.

Morning Glory

Fast-climbing vine with trumpets that open fresh every morning.

Morning Light Miscanthus

Fine white-edged foliage shimmers in morning light, then silver plumes arch above in fall.

Pelargonium

The classic window-box geranium. Ball-shaped flower clusters above scalloped leaves. Tough container staple.

Pentas

Star-shaped flower clusters that hummingbirds and butterflies hit on every pass. Blooms nonstop in heat that stops impatiens cold.

Petunia

Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.

Plumbago

Sky-blue phlox-like clusters bloom nonstop in warm climates. The blue flower that thrives where most blues melt in summer heat.

Plumeria

Intoxicatingly fragrant tropical blooms. The flower of Hawaiian leis.

Portulaca

Succulent-leaved sun lover with silky rose-like blooms that thrives where pavement, rock, or sand defeats everything else.

Rose

The queen of the garden. Modern varieties are surprisingly low-maintenance.

Rose of Sharon

A cold-hardy hibiscus shrub (Hibiscus syriacus) with big tropical-looking blooms in lavender, pink, blue, white, or wine, opening late summer when most flowering shrubs are done.

Scabiosa

Pincushion blooms on long wiry stems dance over fine foliage. Pollinator magnet that keeps producing if you keep cutting.

Strawflower

Papery petals that already look like dried flowers when fresh. The original everlasting, hanging on long after every other bloom fades.

Sweet Alyssum

Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.

Sweet Olive

Small clustered flowers perfume the garden with an apricot-like scent over a long season.

Wax Begonia

Glossy leaves and nonstop flowers in sun or shade. One of the most reliable bedding plants anywhere.

Zebra Grass

Horizontal yellow bands cross the blades in a pattern unique among ornamental grasses. Bold and architectural.

Zinnia

Easy-grow annual with electric colors. Cut-and-come-again champion.