Phlox paniculata
Garden Plant Information

Phlox paniculata

 

Name

Phlox paniculata (also called Perennial phlox)

Genus  

Phlox

Species

paniculata

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Hardy herbaceous perennial, with sweetly fragrant panicles of pink flowers, borne from summer to mid-autumn. Lovely in cottage or informal gardens, good for cutting. Noted for attracting wildlife.

Season of interest

Flowers from summer to mid-autumn.

Key horticultural features

  1. Habit - upright, though may need support. H: up to 1.2m S: 1m.

  2. Stems - round, smooth, straight. Dark green, tinged with red.

  3. Leaves - alternate, opposite, dark green, lance-shaped. Leaves lack petioles.

  4. Flowers -  clusters of scented, salver-shaped, pale pink flowers open in summer. The centre of the flower shows a narrow circle of slightly darker pink. Flowers are borne in terminal panicles, on narrow stems that grow from the stem tip, and from the leaf apices nearer the top of the plant.

Cultural details

Aspect

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil

Moisture-retentive, fertile, otherwise not fussy.

Hardiness

Fully hardy.

Maintenance

Deadhead to prolong flowering season. In autumn cut the stems down to the base and mulch with compost or well rotted manure in early spring.

 

May be affected by slugs, snails, phlox eelworm and powdery mildew.

Propagation

 

Divide in spring or autumn, take root cuttings in early autumn or winter or take basal cuttings in spring. New plants take a couple of years to bulk up and get going, but once they're well established they have a good long season with plenty of flowers.