Plant DetailShow Menu

Phlox paniculata

Phonetic Spelling
FLOKS pan-ik-yoo-LAY-tah
Description

Phlox paniculata is an erect herbaceous perennial that may grow 2 to 4 feet tall and is clump-forming. Flowers come in various colors and bloom mid-summer to mid-fall. It mixes well with other perennials, attracts hummingbirds, and is a good selection for a bird garden. This popular flower has escaped gardens and naturalized into areas beyond its original native range.

Phlox paniculata prefers sun to partial shade and moist, fertile, and well-drained soils. Good air circulation (adequate spacing and thinning of stems as needed) will help combat powdery mildew. Overhead watering should be avoided. Phlox needs to be watered in dry summers and mulched to keep the root zone cool. Removing faded flower panicles will prolong blooming and prevent self-seeding as cultivars do not come true from seed.

In winter, plants should be cut to the ground and removed from the garden in order to minimize possible powdery mildew infection for the following season. This plant has numerous pest and disease problems and is not always an easy plant to grow well. Phlox bugs, powdery mildew, and root rot can be serious problems. Spider mites can also be a problem, particularly in hot, dry conditions. Taller stems may need staking.

 

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Floricyle Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Backyard Patio
Cultivars / Varieties:
'David', 'David's Lavender', 'Delta Snow', 'Jeana', 'Lord Clayton'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#fall interest#upright form#moist soil#fire low flammability#NC native#well-drained soil#rich soils#summer flowers#thickets#native garden#border planting#self-seeding#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#clumping#fantz#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#clay soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#roadside#black walnut toxicity tolerant#Audubon#woodland garden#stormwater demo garden orange co#perennial#herb garden#wildlife friendly#meadow#th-sight
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'David', 'David's Lavender', 'Delta Snow', 'Jeana', 'Lord Clayton'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#hummingbird friendly#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#fall interest#upright form#moist soil#fire low flammability#NC native#well-drained soil#rich soils#summer flowers#thickets#native garden#border planting#self-seeding#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#clumping#fantz#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#clay soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#roadside#black walnut toxicity tolerant#Audubon#woodland garden#stormwater demo garden orange co#perennial#herb garden#wildlife friendly#meadow#th-sight
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phlox
    Species:
    paniculata
    Family:
    Polemoniaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Leaf extract has been used as a laxative and for treating boils.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern United States
    Distribution:
    New York to Iowa south to Georgia, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    It attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Defines Paths
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Garden phlox has fragrant, tubular, pink-purple, blue to lavender to purple to white florets (to 3/4” diameter) that are densely packed in large, tiered, domed terminal clusters (to 6-8"). Florets have a long corolla tube and five flat petal-like lobes. The calyx is tubular, ribbed, with 5 lobes, and is subulate. The corolla is salverform and 5-lobed. Flowers bloom from July to August.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Deep green leaves are 4-6 inches long with conspicuous veins and are opposite, acute, cuneate, simple, pointed. The leaves are ovate to elliptic to lanceolate. The veins branch off the center vein then curve toward the tip of the leaf near the edge and connect with the next vein, forming what appears to be a vein along the edge of the leaf. Upper leaves are subsessile to clasping.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are stiff and erect.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Recreational Play Area
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Fire