Phlox maculata

Common Names

Meadow Phlox, Spotted Phlox, Speckled Phlox, Wild Sweet William

Summary

Phlox maculata, commonly known as Meadow Phlox, is an upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial native to eastern North America, it grows about 2-3 feet tall, with stems often red-spotted, and bears dense panicles of fragrant tubular flowers in pink, purple, or white during summer, leaves are opposite and lanceolate, and the plant forms large colonies by spreading via short rhizomes, a distinctive feature in naturalized plantings, it prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, with mulch around the roots to keep them cool, to reduce powdery mildew, ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering, the plant is deer resistant, it self-seeds and spreads to form colonies and can be propagated by seed or division, ideal for meadow, border, cottage, or native plant gardens, it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is valued as a cut flower, it is not drought tolerant and requires supplemental water in dry spells

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun. Tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, consistently moist soil.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Pink to purple, occasionally white

Bloom Time

Summer and Fall.

Foliage Color

Dark green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds