A shady porch or a wide-brim hat can offer relief from the heat, but when you look out onto a garden dappled with white flowers and deep-green foliage, the mercury in the thermometer seems to drop significantly. Just the combination of these two colors gives the illusion of a cool, woodland environment and it is enough to make peace with mid-summer’s, relentless heat. Here’s a sampling of white-flowering plants:

Hydrangeas (H. arborescens ‘Incrediball’ or H. ‘Annabelle,’ H. ‘Limelight’ or the Oakleaf hydrangea): Deep-green leaves accentuate the large panicles of white flowers. With additional moisture, hydrangeas can easily become the backbone of any green and white garden. These thrive from sun to part shade.

Astilbe (Astilbe ‘Deutschland’): Feathery plumes of white flowers and shiny green leaves make this shade plant a sophisticated choice. Plant in moist, humus-rich soil.

Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra): The medium-green foliage is clump-forming and cascades gracefully in garden beds or containers. It thrives in partial sun and is drought-resistant once established.

Oriental Lily (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’): These tall and fragrant lilies bloom in August or late summer. They prefer full sun but will flower in dappled sunlight, too. The pure white, trumpet-like blooms are a standout in the evening garden.

Ghost Fern (Athyrium ‘Ghost’): This American hybrid is a cross between the Lady Fern and the Japanese Painted Fern. Its apple-green fronds are frosted in a silvery-white and glow among other green-leaved plants. These ferns will tolerate dry spells better than most ferns.

Hosta (Hosta ‘Blue Ivory’): Thick, quilted leaves with blue centers and creamy-white margins brighten to snow-white later in the season. Low maintenance plant for shade.

Asiatic Lily ‘Pearl Jennifer’: This Asiatic Hybrid offers brilliant yellow petals with an undertone of chartreuse and a galaxy of red freckles. The plants mature from 3 to 4 feet in height and blooms earlier in June and July.