From ground cover to tall flowers, there is a variety of this summer bloomer for every perennial border.
Phloxis one of those dependable summer flowers any largesunny flowerbedor border shouldn’t be without.
There are several different kinds of phlox.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Garden and meadow phlox produce large panicles of fragrant flowers in a wide assortment of colors.
They also add height, heft, and charm to a border.
Tall garden phlox should be planted in full sun, whereas woodland phlox needspartial shadeto thrive.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
The tall phlox feature beautifully among other heirloom plants in cottage gardens.
Phlox can be planted as specimens, but the low-growing types are particularly striking as drifts.
Backfill the hole and gently tamp down the soil around the base.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Spacing depends on the punch in of phlox because the width or spread of the mature plant varies greatly.
Plant tall garden phlox about 18 inches apart and leave about 2 feet between creeping phlox types.
Tall garden phlox needs full sun to thrive.
Credit: Mark Kane
Soil and Water
The soil should be moist and rich, with excellent drainage.
Poorly draining soil is problematic and should be avoided.
Phlox is undemanding in terms of pH; it grows in a pH range between 5.0 and 8.0.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Water the plant regularly until it is fully established and shows vigorous new growth.
After that, phlox hasmoderate watering needs.
Ideally, it should receive 1 inch of water weekly, but most types tolerate short dry spells.
Credit: Tom McWilliam
Mulching around the base of the plant helps to retain soil moisture.
For the amount to use, follow product label directions.
In the fall, after the first killing frost,cut the stems backto a height of 2 inches.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
In the spring, remove all dead foliage from the plants, making room for new growth.
Potting and Repotting Phlox
Forcontainer plants, choose a short variety, such as creeping phlox.
Plant it in a container with large drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Fill it up with fresh potting soil.
Pests and Problems
As a native plant, phlox has few serious problems.
The most common one ispowdery mildew, which is unsightly but not deadly.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It can be prevented by providing good air circulation between plants and removing infected foliage to contain the spread.
There are also phlox varieties bred for powdery mildew resistance.
How to Propagate Phlox
Phlox often reseeds itself freely.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
If you want the small volunteer plants elsewhere, dig them up and replant them in another spot.
Otherwise, you could also propagate phlox from stem cuttings.
In the late spring, take a 4-inch cutting of a healthy stem and remove the lower leaves.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It will take at least a month for roots to develop.
Wait until the cutting has grown a bunch of new leaves before transplanting it into garden soil.
It grows 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Zones 4-8
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulatais a low-mounding plant smothered with bright flowers in spring.
Its slender 1/2-inch leaves are evergreen, stiff, and prickly.
It seldom tops 6 inches tall.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It grows 3 feet tall.
It is very long blooming from midsummer to fall when itattracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
It grows 3 feet tall and 18 inches wide.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It grows 28 inches tall and 20 inches wide.
It grows 32 inches tall and 14 inches wide.
It grows 16 inches tall and 14 inches wide.
Zones 4-8
‘Sherbet Cocktail’ Phlox
Phlox paniculata’Sherbet Cocktail' offers unique purple flowers tipped in chartreuse.
It offers good disease resistance and flowers from midsummer to fall.
It grows 28 inches tall and 20 inches wide.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It grows 26 inches tall and 24 inches wide.
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricatais ashade-loving wildflowerwith fragrant, lavender-purple flowers in spring.
It grows 1 foot tall.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
At bloom time, plants are covered with umbels of pure white flowers that fade to pink.
Compact selections are now available.
Where happy, this plant will spread.
Supply good drainage and cut back spent flowers to keep plants neat.
The creeping forms drape beautifully over rock walls.
After bloom time, shear the plants to deadhead and for neatness.
Plants prefer sweet (alkaline) soils with full sun and excellent drainage.
Shasta Daisy
Easy, always fresh, and always eye-catching,Shasta daisy is a longtime favorite.
All cultivars produce white daisy flowers in various degrees of doubleness and size.
The sturdy stems and long vase life make the flowers unbeatable for cutting.
Shasta daisy thrives in well-drained, not overly rich soil.
Taller sorts may need staking.
Well-drained but moisture-retentive soil is a must for this prairie native.
It depends on the variety.
Phlox may bloom in early, mid, or late summer.
Plant different varieties to stagger the bloom time, so your phlox will bloom all summer long.
