Tall garden phlox

Count on tall garden phlox (Phlox paniculata hybrids) to provide a colorful summer display in perennial gardens, blooming as much as six weeks or more. Some cultivars begin blooming in mid-summer, others not until late August. Most tall garden phlox grow two to three feet, with some slightly taller.

Garden phlox are available in a wide range of pink, rose, red, lavender, purple, orange and white, along with bi-colors that have an "eye" in the center of each flower or a contrasting margin. Cultivars range from softest pastels to electric, "knock-your-socks-off" brilliant blooms. In addition to their visual appeal, many tall garden phlox are sweetly perfumed.

Site and soil

• Tall garden phlox grow best in full sunlight, but will tolerate light shade
• Shading decreases both bloom quantity and quality, while it increases disease problems
• They should not be planted near trees and shrubs that compete for moisture and nutrients
• Avoid placing them next to fences or walls where air circulation is poor because this is an invitation to disease problems
• Choose soils that drain well, yet retain adequate moisture
• A soil test every 3 to 5 years is helpful in determining the need for soil amendments and fertilizer

Planting

Tall garden phlox are typically purchased as potted plants from nurseries, garden centers, or local farmers' markets. Make sure you get Phlox paniculata because there are other phlox species that, while very lovely, will have different growth habits and growing requirements than what we describe here.  

• Potted nursery plants may be transplanted into the garden throughout the growing season, right up to early autumn.
• Buy bare root plants from mail-order nurseries in spring.
• Avoid purchasing bare root plants in the fall. Fall-planted specimens are more subject to frost heaving.
• Mail-order plants might arrive too late in fall to be planted safely.
• When planting, set the crown of each plant about an inch and a half below the soil surface for both potted and bare root plants.
• Incorporate generous amounts of organic matter into any soil before planting. And it's an absolute necessity if the site has sandy soil.
• Composted yard waste, peat moss, or well-rotted manure all work well to improve soil structure.
• Mulch fall-planted phlox with four to six inches of hay or straw, chopped leaves, or pine needles as soon as the soil freezes.
  • After the first year fall mulching is less critical, though it's always a good idea.
  • Mulch not only protects plants from winter's cold, it helps prevent premature soil warming that could result in early spring growth, before weather is reliably mild.

Transplanting and dividing

• Most phlox need to be divided every two to four years if they're growing well.
• The best time to do divide and transplant is in spring, before new growth begins.
• Each division should consist of three to five vigorous shoots with roots attached.
• When planting, position them as you would new plants, with the crowns an inch or so below the soil surface.
• Space them 18 inches apart to ensure adequate air circulation.

How to care for tall garden phlox

• Keep soil moist by watering thoroughly on a regular basis
• Water the soil rather than phlox foliage to aid in disease prevention
• If you must water overhead, water early in the morning so plants will dry rapidly in the sun
• Spread two to three inches of mulch after the soil warms in mid- to late June to keep the soil cool and damp, and to reduce weed growth
• Once stems are about six inches tall, eliminate all but five or six stems per plant, then pinch back the growing tips of those remaining stems (you'll find they become more robust, produce larger clusters of flowers, and are less bothered by powdery mildew)
• A spring application of manure or compost is beneficial each year
• If not using manure or compost, you can apply a light application of 10-10-10 fertilizer as new growth emerges each spring, and then again just before plants begin to flower

If your phlox produces seeds, the resulting seedlings will not resemble the parent and will usually turn out to be pale magenta. To keep your plants the color you chose initially, it's important to "deadhead" or remove clusters of faded flowers so mature, viable seeds are not dropped to the ground.

Some newer phlox cultivated varieties are sterile, but even then, deadheading is a good idea because it results in more attractive plants. And sometimes if you fertilize adequately, phlox may put out an unexpected second smaller flush of blooms.