Phlox paniculata

Common Names

Tall Garden Phlox, Autumn Phlox, Fall Phlox, Summer Phlox, Summer Perennial Phlox, Cross-Leaved Phlox

Summary

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) is an upright, clump-forming perennial native to the central and eastern United States, it grows to 2–4 feet tall with a 2–3 foot spread and bears panicles of fragrant, five-petaled flowers in pink, purple, red, lavender, rose, or white, flowers are borne on leafy stems from midsummer to early autumn and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, its strong vertical habit and aromatic blooms make it a centerpiece in borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator plantings, in cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, moist but well-drained soil, space plants 12–24 inches apart, water deeply (avoiding overhead watering), mulch to retain moisture, and provide good air circulation to reduce mildew risk, regular deadheading encourages rebloom and pruning back after flowering sustains vigor, divide every 2–3 years to maintain vigor, and propagate by division or cuttings, hardy in USDA zones 4–8, cultivars exist with mildew resistance such as 'David' and 'Jeana', widely used for borders, cut flowers, and pollinator gardens

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-4 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun or Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, fertile, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter (pH 6.0–8.0)

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Slightly acidic to alkaline

Bloom Color

White, pink, purple, lavender, blue, red, orange, fuchsia, magenta, bicolors

Bloom Time

Summer through Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Division, Cuttings (basal cuttings, root cuttings, stem cuttings), Seeds

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators