Garden phlox–botanical name Phlox paniculata– bears fragrant, five-petaled flowers in clusters from early summer to mid-autumn. The fragrant flowers are white or pale to dark lilac. Garden phlox is an herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped toothed, thin leaves, a good choice for mass plantings and borders.
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Get to Know Phlox paniculata — Garden Phlox
- Plant type: Perennial
- Growing Zones and range: 4-8
- Hardiness: Hardy to -35° (-37°C)
- Height and width: 24 inches to 4 feet (1.2m) tall; 24 to 39 inches (60-100cm) wide
- Foliage: Ovate or lance-shaped to elliptic, toothed, thin leaves 2 to 5 inches (1.5-2.5cm) long
- Flowers: Salverform (a narrow tube with petals bent abruptly outward at right angles) blossoms on panicle-like cymes
- Flower colors: Wild forms are magenta; hybrids are shades of pink, red, lilac, or white and some are bicolored
- Bloom time: Early, mid-, or late summer depending on the variety
- Uses: Mass plantings, borders
- Common name: Garden phlox, summer phlox
- Botanical name: Phlox paniculata
- Family: Polemoniaceae
- Origin: North America
Where to Plant Phlox paniculata
- Plant garden phlox in full sun in Zones 3-6; plant in light shade in hot-summer regions in Zones 7-9.
- Grow phlox in compost-rich, well-drained soil.
When to Plant Phlox paniculata
- Set garden phlox in the garden in spring or fall.
Planting and Spacing Phlox paniculata
- Space garden phlox 18 to 24 inches apart. Space plants so that they are not crowded; crowded plants are susceptible to mildew.
How to Water and Feed Phlox paniculata
- Garden phlox wants ample moisture; do not let the soil dry out.
- Fertilize garden phlox with an all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer each spring.
Phlox paniculata Care
- Mulch around garden phlox to conserve soil moisture.
- Cut garden phlox back by one-third after blooming to encourage new blooms.
- Cut back garden phlox that is attacked by mildew.
Phlox paniculata Propagation
- Phlox paniculata seeds will germinate in 5-10 days at 60-65°F (16-18°C).
Phlox paniculata Varieties to Grow
- There are numerous cultivars of Phlox paniculata.
- Mildew-resistant cultivars include ‘Miss Lingard’, ‘Mt. Fuji’, ‘David’, ‘Franz Schubert, and ‘Eva Cullum’.
- Phlox maculata, also called wild sweet William or spotted phlox is more mildew resistant than Phlox paniculata.
