Flower ResourcesDiscover the right flowers for your garden.
Luminary ™ ' Ultraviolet ' Tall Garden Phlox . Photo by : Proven Winners .
A cottage garden mainstay , phlox owe its suffer popularity to its clouds of billowy bloom and no - fuss nature . But the real icing the puck on the cake is the long blossoming time of year , with varieties begin to bloom in early outpouring and others blooming until the first gruelling frost in fall . “ Phlox carry the garden through the dog days of summer , have down the fortress until the asters and blazing stars come up on control board , ” says plant specialiser James Locklear , writer ofPhlox : A innate History and Gardener ’s Guide .
You ’ll also findphloxin nearly every hue on the color wheel , even hard - to - discover spook of blue . In fact , the selection of colors and cultivars is so vast , it can be dash to choose among them . Here ’s a look at some of our top pickaxe , along with advice for incorporating phlox into your own garden .
On this page : Basics|Types|Growing|Care Tips|Pictures|Using in the Garden
PHLOX BASICS
Zones:
perennial hardy in Zones 3 or 4 through 9 , depend on the species;Phlox drummondiiis an annual .
Height:
6 inch to 4 foundation tall , bet on the eccentric .
Flowers:
Dainty five - petaled flower are pack by the wads into dense clump , or panicles . The bloom are often sweet fragrant , and some cultivar have central eye in contrasting color .
Foliage:
While most have green leaves , some have variegated foliation with creamy clean or yellow margins .
Bloom time:
look on the type . Phlox are often categorized as early season , midseason , and late season bloomers . By planting varieties of each , you ’ll have flowers all summertime long and well into autumn .
Pros:
Cons:
TYPES OF PHLOX
' Opening Act White ' Phlox crossbreed . pic by : Proven Winners .
Phlox paniculata:
Phlox drummondii:
Phlox divaricata:
Phlox stolonifera:
Phlox subulata:
GROWING PHLOX
Light requirements:
Although phlox flower best when afford full Dominicus , most are native to open up or filtered woodlands and do n’t take care a bit of specter , especially when develop in red-hot southern climates . As a general convention , aim for about 6 hours of sun pic day by day .
Soil:
Grow in moist , rich , well - drain soil enriched with a layer of compost or other constitutive matter . Phlox prefers soil that ’s slenderly alkaline and will benefit from regular software of lime if your soil incline to be acidulent ( seeGarden Soil 101 ) .
How to plant:
If you are growing bare - root or potted flora , put them in the land in outpouring after the danger of frost is preceding , space plants about 18 to 24 in aside to guarantee good air circulation . soundly water supply , and then apply a layer of mulch around the radical zone to aid keep the roots cool and moist . you’re able to also rise from seed , but they must be started indoors in late wintertime ( seeSeed start ) .
Photo by : Pelevina Ksinia / Shutterstock .
PHLOX CARE TIPS
Watering:
Phlox does n’t care drought and should be watered during ironical spells or whenever you see the foliage start to wilt . Ideally , they should invite about an inch of H2O per workweek during the grow time of year . To keep foliation healthy , water in the morning and at the rootzone , rather than overhead .
Pruning and deadheading:
Phlox does n’t normally require pruning , but if you want to check blooming and get bushier plant with more flower head , top or cut back the stems by one - third to one - half in early summer . Deadheading the spent bloom may also extend the efflorescence period and prevent phlox spreading from unwanted reseeding .
Diseases:
The # 1 opposition of phlox ispowdery mildew , particularly in humid climates during the hot , muggy days of summertime . Plants maturate in partial refinement are also more susceptible . The good preventive measure is to ameliorate air circulation by cutting plant in former springiness . Also , provide adequate spacing when implant and seem for mildew - resistant cultivars .
Pests:
Phlox can also be susceptible to impairment byspider mites .
Dividing perennial phlox:
To prevent overcrowding and meliorate the heartiness of your plants , separate them every 3 to 4 years . Telltale signs that phlox is ready for division include sparser blooming and mall that start to soften or expire out .
Winter care for perennial phlox:
After the first killing Robert Frost , abbreviate back the root word just above above the soil line and remove and discard the foliage , especially if your plants have been affected by powdery mildew . In cold-blooded regions , protect the roots by utilize a layer of mulch before the primer coat freezes .
PICTURES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
Luminary ® ' Prismatic Pink'—Buy from Proven WinnersP. paniculata
Zones:3 - 8
Height / Spread:32 to 34 inches marvelous , 24 to 28 inches wide
Bloom meter : Mid to belated summer
This aboriginal hybrid has classical bubblegum pinkish flowers with a dark pinkish eye that form declamatory , dense panicle atop the dark green leaf . arrant sizing for mid - border and a great slice bloom .
Intensia ® Blueberry — steal from Proven WinnersP. drummondii
geographical zone : Grown as an annual
Height / Spread:10 to 16 inches tall and wide
Bloom time : Early summertime to hard frost
first-class heat , drought , and disease allowance . A great selection for landscapes with good drainage and container .
Intensia ® Red Hot — bargain from Proven WinnersP. drummondii
' Opening Act Ultrapink'—Buy from Proven WinnersPhloxhybrid
Zones:4 - 8
Height / Spread:22 to 28 in grandiloquent , 32 to 36 inches wide
Bloom clip : Early to belated summertime
Add a long season of color with the rose - pink flowers of this mold and disease - resistant variety .
' Opening Act Pink - a - Dot'—Buy from Proven WinnersPhloxhybrid
Height / Spread:22 to 26 inch improbable , 30 to 36 inches wide
The good - white flower on this disease - resistant , perennial variety have a glowering pink plaza .
leap Bling ™ ' Pink Sparkles'—Buy from Proven WinnersPhloxhybrid
Height / Spread:4 to 8 inches tall , 24 to 28 inch spread
Bloom time : Mid to late spring
Soft , babe pink flowers make this perennial phlox a beautiful footing cover . Plant in full sun for right florescence .
' David’Phlox paniculata‘David '
Height / Spread:3 to 4 feet grandiloquent , 2 to 3 feet wide
prominent heads of pure white flower float like clouds among the other perennials in the summer garden . A good pick for growing in hot , humid climates because it is one of the most mildew - tolerant miscellany .
pic by : Walters Gardens , Inc.
' undimmed Eyes’P. paniculata
Height:18 to 24 inches tall
Bloom time : Mid - summer to early declivity
Two upbeat shades of pink in one bloom . Brobdingnagian noodle - shaped blossom heads are up to 9 inches long .
Photo by : Olga Glagazina / Shutterstock .
' Blue Ridge’P. stolonifera
Height:6 to 10 inches grandiloquent
Showy , fragrant lavender - juicy peak peak on this mounding repeated phlox . Use as an choice to vinca .
USING PHLOX IN THE GARDEN
Intensia ® Blueberry phlox in front of Luscious ® Bananarama ™ lantana and ColorBlaze ® Rediculous ® flame nettle . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Few plant can perk up the fade midsummer landscape painting like phlox . Use them wherever you involve to add a punch of coloring .
update 3/11/21
