Garden Phlox
Garden Phlox with all it’s varieties and growing habits makes it one of those must have plants in my gardens. Having a full range of bloom colors doesn’t hurt either. I don’t have a favorite - I want them all. I can only think of two problems with Phlox. One is powdery mildew and quite frankly I’ve quit fighting it. It doesn’t seem to hurt my plants and I’ve become blind to the white coating on the leaves. The other problem I do have my knickers in a bunch over is the deer. They wait until the flowers buds are ready to open before they help themselves to a free meal.
Phlox paniculata commonly known as Garden Phlox is the backbone in many of my flower beds. With an average height of 3 – 4 feet I can use it as the backdrop for other perennials. Tucked behind other plants helps to hide that powdery mildew too.
Newer varieties are becoming shorter all the time. Last year I ran across some at my favorite nursery only a foot tall. The blooms on “Purple Flame” and “White Flame” were very impressive on such small plants. I brought some home to try and I’ll see how well they have wintered over. With early snow and a deep cover of it all winter (still a foot deep now) I don’t have any fears it will not survive.
The photo above is a phlox from my wife’s mother we’ve had nearly 25 years. The “Mutant Bumblebee” is a actually a hawkmoth. My wife caused quite a commotion when she came running into the barn yelling something about a mutant in the garden.
Phlox subulata – creeping phlox is another commonly seen plant in many gardens. This is a low growing plant averaging 4 to 6 inches high. The blooms range in color from white, pink, red, purple and blue and flowers in April – May. Needle like evergreen foliage forms mats that are covered in flowers during bloom time. The plants prefer sun and well drained soil.
My only complaint is they suffer from winter die back in my long cold winters. Spring often finds them looking very ‘ratty’ and at times do not grow back to the last years coverage. The photo above was taken 400 miles south of my home and as you can see they flourish in milder winters. The spread you see was originally 3 small pots planted about 2 feet apart the year before.
Phlox stolonifera – broad leaved creeping phlox. This is my new love. It has a slow creeping habit and varities bloom in white or shades of lavender-/purple/blue in May. The plant wants sun but prefers some late afternoon shade. The soil should be well drained but never allowed to dry for long periods. Those in the photo only receive a couple hours of early morning sun. During the long hot dry summer days I’ve watered just enough to keep some moisture in the soil.
I have attempted to grow this on clay based soils that are best decribed as wet. The heavy poorly drained soil was too much for the stolonifera to overcome and they gradually faded away. In another area where the soil was amended with compost and remained dryer they faired better and I have a feeling the acidic soil wasn’t to their taste.
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March 27th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Instant smiles when I saw the phlox on this post, John! I love them too, especially the last one; I think that it’s Phlox divaricata though, not stolonifera, because of the leaf width and that colour. I have several different ones, including the species and a cultivar called Chattahoochee which has a purple eye. Like you I put it in spots with better drainage and it seems to have settled in (though this year it’s still buried in snow in the shaded areas.)
You were spot on about the hummingbirds–I have big swathes of Monarda out back, about four different varieties ( Jacob Kline red, pink, muddy magenta, and Raspberry Wine) plus wild bergamot. We have somewhere around 2 dozen hummingbirds here in high summer, and it’s hilarious to watch them dive bombing, courting, fighting…they make me instantly happy. Here’s hoping you find spring somewhere nearby soon.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:53 am
What lovely pictures. I love phlox and have mostly the creeping variety. I have been trying to get it to overflow the edge of a built up garden. On one side it slopes down to our awn and on the other is held of the street by stacked landscape timbers. It did well a couple of years and spread but then had a harsh winter or two and it has died back considerably. Will probably have to plant more now.
Very informative post. Thank you.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Your pictures are a vision of beauty to get us through the next few days. I hate snow in the forecast…
March 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Well .. I have to admit .. I’m afraid of phlox .. the non creeping kind .. I have the creeping “moss” phlox ? what the tag said , yes .. I am a victim of mislabeled plants too …. mine has pretty blue flowers but not as intense as those wonderful pictures (I secretly lust over such intense colours as that .. I think I would be an easy pick off the turnip truck if some one could swear I would have such colours with such a plant ? .. hum ?)
That last picture .. wow … I could drool over that setting forever .. just absolutely beautiful.
Meanwhile back at the farm … snow .. snow and more snow STILL on the ground which includes my garden .. BIG sigh !
The weather gargoyle (Hubert .. go figure) is still wagging his .. finger .. at me .. I’m trying to hang on here and prove my worth as a gardener .. you will all have to wait and see the garden I have been .. talking ? about ..
Hey .. don’t forget we still have the astilbe competition going on .. even if it takes a couple of months .. and DON’T send that monster moth over to intimidate me buster ! haha
Joy
March 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I love phlox too, and would like to add a few more varieties to my gardens. There’s that gorgeous stolonifera again! It looks wonderful in its surroundings and those hostas are spectacular!
The snow is gone from our yard and we’re getting light rain right now. I wonder if it’ll turn to snow before morning. This has been a very wintery March. Bah humbug!
March 28th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I like Phlox to and I i have some in different colers and some with varigated leafs, I think they are beautiful but we have the same problem in Sweden bouth with the white dust and the dear.
Never the less, I like them.
Ken
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
If the creeping phlox spreads that quickly I need some! I tried a tall variety but managed to kill it my first year. I may try again this year. I love the one with the hosta.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Great website! I have creeping phlox, planted last spring, and this spring they are absolutely beautiful. My husband and I are wondering how long the blooms last? We would love to have it blooming all summer long. Thanks!
May 18th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
This photo with the hosta, phlox and what looks like clover is beautiful. My question is what is the large leafed plant in the lower left hand corner? Does this plant flower? I have a woodland shade garden under a Redwood Tree and I am always looking for low growing plants to help cover some of the ground.