White Candles
Whitfieldia elongata
Traits
Varieties We Bring In
Last received Mar 11, 2026.
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
About White Candles
White Candles (Whitfieldia elongata) is a shade-loving tropical shrub from West Africa in the acanthus family, grown for its erect spikes of tubular white flowers that emerge from silvery bracts over an extended season. It forms a compact, upright plant with dark, glossy green leaves and thrives in humid, sheltered garden positions. A distinctive flowering shrub for shaded tropical and subtropical gardens. Starting at $19.95.
Plant details
- Bloom Season
- Fall, Winter, Spring
- Flower Color
- White
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- Loam, Well-drained
Best planting months
Seasonal care
Good planting window.
Active growing season.
Bloom season. Ideal planting window.
Bloom season. Retains foliage through winter.
Care essentials
White candles demands bright shade or filtered light in NE Florida; direct sun bleaches foliage and inhibits flowering. Morning sun with afternoon shade or dappled light under trees is ideal.
Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; wilts quickly when dry. NE Florida's humid summers suit it well — water every 2–3 days in dry periods and ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
Use rich, humus-amended, well-drained loam. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring and again in early fall. Grow as a container plant in NE Florida zone 9b so it can be moved indoors when temperatures drop below 40°F.
Similar needs
Boxwood
Shares 4 of the same needs: shade, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Chinese Snowball
Shares 4 of the same needs: similar light, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Cleyera
Shares 4 of the same needs: shade, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Coastal Rosemary
Shares 4 of the same needs: similar light, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Croton
Shares 4 of the same needs: similar light, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
Elderberry
Shares 4 of the same needs: similar light, moderate water, loam, and zone 9a hardiness.
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Common questions
Is White Candles a good plant for St. Augustine?
White Candles is a shrub for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, reaching 3-6 feet × 3-4 feet.
Care information verified from
Last reviewed February 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.