Garden phlox grows in upright clumps, and it is a moderately tall perennial. In fact, “tall phlox” is another of its common names. The species name of paniculata refers to the “panicles” of blooms (flower heads) held atop its stalks. Occasionally, the foliage is also attractive, especially on the variegated cultivars, such as ‘Nora Leigh.’ Unfortunately, the appearance of the leaves can be marred by powdery mildew. Learn how to grow and care for this classic plant for the cottage garden. Deadhead the spent flowers on garden phlox to prolong the blooming period. Regularly weed around your plant so that weeds do not sap its strength or rob it of the water it needs to get through the summer. Garden phlox attracts bees and other pollinating insects to the yard so you want to avoid spraying with insecticides or herbicides that can kill them.
Light
Grow garden phlox in full sun in the North and partial sun in the South.
Soil
Garden phlox does best in fertile , moist soil with the biggest requirement being good drainage.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist, but do not overwater. Avoid overhead watering. Point the nozzle of your garden hose, instead, at an angle that will direct the spray at ground level. Keeping the foliage dry will minimize problems with powdery mildew.
Temperature and Humidity
Garden phlox does not like hot, humid summers, so it is not a good choice for gardeners in the Deep South. You can mitigate problems of heat and humidity by adding mulch to keep the root zone cool.
Fertilizer
This plant wants a soil with moderate fertility. Fertilize garden phlox with compost each year in spring.
Propagating Garden Phlox
Propagate phlox plants by dividing them in early spring. Dig your phlox plant out of the ground and split it into smaller clumps using a sharp knife. Then replant these clumps. You can also direct sow seeds in spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Cover seeds lightly with 1/8 inch of soil. Germination should occur in 5 to 10 days.
Potting and Repotting Garden Phlox
If you plan to grow garden phlox in a container, you will need to pot it properly to provide the plant with optimal growing conditions. The best soil to use in a container is a potting mix, since this product drains well. Avoid using garden soil, which is likely to become compacted in a container. The result of compacted soil will be root rot caused by inadequate drainage, which can be fatal to your plant. Due to its height, garden phlox grown in pots may need staking or some other form of support.
Varieties of Phlox
There are many varieties of phlox, although people generally think of either the commonly-grown creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) or garden phlox (Phlox paniculata). Phlox subulata stays short and creeps, while garden phlox is tall and upright. These two varieties serve different purposes in the garden. Creeping phlox is a ground cover, whereas garden phlox, with its greater height, is more likely to be found in the middle or back row of a flower bed. Another difference between the two is that creeping phlox is a spring bloomer, while garden phlox is a summer bloomer. Furthermore, Phlox subulata has needle-like leaves, some of which remain green throughout the winter, while the leaves of garden phlox are much larger and die back at the end of the growing season; they are narrow at both ends and flare out in the middle. Other types of phlox include:
Drummond phlox (Phlox drummondii) is an annual species.Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata): This perennial shares the feature of blooming in spring with creeping phlox, but its size is more reminiscent of garden phlox.Spotted phlox (Phlox maculata) is a perennial similar to garden phlox both regarding bloom time and appearance. It has less of a problem with powdery mildew than does Phlox paniculata.
Common Pests & Diseases
Garden phlox is susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that thrives under hot, humid conditions. Some cultivars of garden phlox, such as ‘David,’ are relatively mildew-resistant so look for these cultivars whenever possible. Other steps that you can take to prevent powdery mildew include:
Give garden phlox good air circulation by making sure to provide sufficient space between plants.As part of your garden cleanup in fall, cut the stems down to the ground and remove them. Do not compost them if powdery mildew is present on any of the foliage.
Garden phlox is not usually bothered by insect pests.
