I only grow cilantro in the winter, and it still bolts quickly. Oregano has white flowers, is perennial, and isn't nearly as invasive as mint. Feverfew might work for you and although they aren't "herbs", I would suggest white pentas, white Texas sage or yarrow.

If you like the idea of Queen Anne's Lace in a nicer plant, consider Orlaya grandiflora. It grows easily from seed, and self-sows nicely without becoming invasive.

:-)

~Christopher

This post was edited by AquaEyes on Mon, Aug 4, 14 at 22:40

I don't see it very often, but White Limonium is very pretty in a mixed border with roses. I like Diascia, in particular the cultivar 'Ice Cracker' which is airier than other Diascias and has nice grey-green foliage to go with white flowers. White Penstemon is a nice white flowering companion plant. I also really like the white variety of Centranthus. Santolina (Lavender Cotton), Lamb's Ears, and Dusty Miller seem like go to grey foliage plants. I like Fennel and Bronze Fennel in mixed borders for their upright presence as far as herbs go. Culinary sage can provide grey interest as well.

Jay

I had a white Limonium and loved it but it died, and I've never seen another one in any nursery. My favorite is marjoram syriacus because the bees love it and it blooms for a very long time. It can get large but can be cut back. I don't mind the size since it's so airy and delicate, and in my opinion it looks great with roses, irises and daylilies. I also have several as a border under a window against a very hot wall. No one seems to like it much here or grow it but it's one of the few companion plants that has lasted here, unlike lamb's ears, dusty miller or any number of other hopefuls.

Ingrid

Oh, I started a thread about this topic too (sort of). Got some fantastic replies from the good folks here. Here's the link if you haven't already seen the thread :)

Here is a link that might be useful: My previous thread

I might also add that parsley flowers are pretty white umbels. I'm going to pop some in the front of my rose beds. If they bolt it won't matter anymore. I'll just pretend I let them do that on purpose.

if you want white foliage, the new Stachys 'Bello Grigio' is quite a gorgeous plant.

Seconds for santolina, lambs' ears, & artemisias. They all do fine in TX heat & drought--fine enough that you might have to thin & wack back occasionally.

There are also white Salvia greggis. I like feverfew & phyrethrum--ferny foliage, white daisies. Silver ponyfoot (dicondra) makes a great low spreading groundcover. The native ox eye daisies & fleabane daisies have a long bloom period & do well.

Also, the various thymes have done well. The variegated silver might have the coloring you like--plus it smells great. The augustifolia lavenders do well, too--but need to be in the back, as they grow large & spread.

For SILVER: Artemesia "Powis Castle" or "David's Choice". David's Choice is my choice, too. It's fluffy, silver, 2' tall and wide, doesn't spread but easily roots from cuttings, drought resistant, and looks good no matter what (except too much rain, which will cause rot).

I second a white Pentstemon. I've got Husker's red which also gives me a nice purple-y leaf to look at for the rest of the summer. Here in Tn in bloomes in the spring with the roses and does well the garden when it is near irragation as well as when it is in a drier area. Fine in my cly soil too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Penstimon

I love sage, there are several varieties. Provence lavender has nice grayish foliage. My FAVORITE companion for roses is Guara. Drought tolerant and so airy looking. It blooms a long time and the flowers look like butterflies flitting about! You should try it.

Anise hyssop might be a consideration. It reseeds readily but the plants while tall stay fairly slender and haven't require staking in my garden. Bees and butterflies love the rather deep lavender spires and it has scented foliage. Also it blooms midsummer.

My plants tend to be about 8 inches wide by 4 - 5 feet tall. My soil is fairly rich and consistently moist. I would imagine they would be smaller in drier areas?

I guess you might also look into wormwood, an herb with very pretty silvery foliage. See how it does in your climate.

Oh! Oh! *hands up*

And don't forget about Blackfoot daisy! If you've got or can provide good drainage for it, nothing blooms so long or abundantly as that native.

Russian sage, Perovskia, is gray leaved, airy and blue flowered. It blooms about now here and I understand that it has been used to flavor vodka (what hasn't?) and so with that and scented foliage I guess it qualifies as an herb.

Cath

It could be deadheaded but here is the white limonium I found earlier this year.

Jay

Nice!

Cath

leucophyllums - there are a couple at least which should be stellar for your area.
My top species tulip, t.batalinii - gorgeous glaucous foliage with dainty primrose or apricot blooms.
mannerly umbels - athamanta turbith, orlaya, the amazing brooding angelica sylvestris Vicar's Meade or Ebony
salvia leucophyllum
astelia nervosa,
celmisias
eryngium yuccifolium
papaver pilosum
geranium renardii or 'Silver Cloak
convolvulous cneorum
centaurea dealbata