How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Phlox
Because there are so many different types of phlox, sunlight requirements vary. Tall garden phlox do best in full sun, while woodland species thrive in partial shade. (See Recommended Varieties, below, for more information!)
In general, phlox prefer soil that is nutrient rich and evenly moist. They do not like to sit in wet soil, however. Use a garden fork or tiller to prepare your garden bed prior to planting. Loosen the soil to about 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost to improve soil consistency and fertility.
When to Plant Phlox
- Plant phlox in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, or plant in the fall at least a month before your first frost.
How to Plant Phlox
- It is easier to grow phlox from cuttings/transplants than from seeds, although established plants will readily spread by seed in the garden.
- Space plants according to their mature size.
- If you are transplanting a plant from a pot, dig a hole about twice the size of the pot’s diameter and place the plant so that the top of the root ball is even with the soil’s surface. Fill in around the root ball and remember to water it thoroughly.
You just can’t go wrong with phlox! Here are some of the best species and varieties to try:
Low-Growing Phlox
- Creeping phlox or moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is a low-growing species that works excellently as a ground cover. It spreads slowly, growing in mounds that get 4–6 inches thick. The whole plant turns into a carpet of color in spring, when flowers cover every square inch of foliage. This phlox is particularly stunning when allowed to drape over a rock wall—imagine a waterfall of color! Creeping phlox grows best in well-drained soil and partial to full sun.
- ‘Candy Stripe’ is a popular variety with pink-and-white–striped flowers.
- ‘Emerald Blue’ produces a sea of lilac-blue flowers (perfect for that waterfall of color!).
Creeping phlox (P. subulata) has needle-shaped leaves and produces a carpet of flowers.
- Phlox stolonifera, which also goes by the common names creeping phlox and moss phlox, is similar to P. subulata in name only. The main differences between it and P. subulata are that its leaves are oval-shaped (rather than needle-shaped) and its flowers are produced on stems that rise 6–10 inches above the foliage (rather than directly on the foliage). It prefers a shadier growing site with rich, evenly-moist soil.
- ‘Sherwood Purple’ is a delicate little phlox with purplish-pink flowers.
- Woodland phlox or blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) is another low-growing species. As its two common names suggest, it prefers partial to full shade and moist, rich soils, and produces bluish flowers in early spring. Like P. stolonifera, its flowers bloom on stems that rise about a foot or so above the creeping foliage.
- ‘Chattahoochee’ and ‘Blue Moon’ are two great varieties with beautiful blue-to-violet flowers.
Medium-Height Phlox
- Annual phlox or Drummond’s phlox (Phlox drummondii) grows as an annual rather than a perennial, unlike most other phlox species. Annual phlox rarely grows taller than 2 feet in height. Most varieties are not very heat tolerant, but in warmer regions you may find the heat-tolerant varieties for sale. Plant in well-draining soil in a site that gets partial sun and doesn’t stay too wet.
Tall Phlox
- Garden phlox or summer phlox (Phlox paniculata) is the tallest phlox in cultivation and is probably the species that most folks have in their gardens. It grows in clumps that reach between 3 and 5 feet in height and produces panicles of flowers in mid- to late summer. Though tolerant of most lighting, it grows and flowers best in partial to full sun. It has a reputation for being very susceptible to powdery mildew, but resistant varieties are available.
- ‘David’ has bright white flowers and is resistant to powdery mildew.
- ‘Jeana’, another mildew-resistant variety, produces panicles of petite purplish flowers—similar in appearance to a butterfly bush.
Other Phlox
The phlox listed above are just a few of the many species out there. Others of interest to gardeners may be Carolina phlox (P. carolina), meadow phlox or spotted phlox (P. maculata), and sand phlox (P. bifida).
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I planted my creeping phlox from plants about 4-5 years ago. Last year and worse this year they have started dying out from the center out. I this normal or what can I do to keep them going. Love them. Thanks.
Can I take a transplant from a tall phylox while the plant is still growing? Can I dig a small transplant fom the existing plant before it blooms?
Hi Edna,
It is a good idea to divide your phlox every 3 to 4 years. It will reinvigorate your plants.
Since tall phlox produces flowers in mid- to late summer, you can divide it in the spring before new growth begins. But since that time has already passed, you can divide it in the fall after the flowers have faded, but well before the threat of frost to give it time to establish.
When dividing, make sure each division has at least 2 or 3 shoots with roots attached.
Can pllox spread if a landscape cloth is used and rocks put around them?
Thanks, Sheila
Hi, Sheila, We do not recommend using landscape cloth for almost anything. We assume that you would put rocks on the landscape cloth. If so, that may appear to work for a while, but when weeds break through or become embedded among the rocks and cloth, you would have a real job trying to eliminate them. Note, too that phlox spreads by seed, so some seeds will land near the mother plant and some could be blown a distance from it, which means you could have phlox where you least want or expect it.
Instead we recommend mulch. Of course, phlox and other plants can/will take root in mulch; the solution is really to weed them out.
I have tall phlox . Do not plant unless you have a large yard. This goes everywhere. It does have long lasting blooms which is nice. I have phlox growing 100 feet away from the original patch. It takes over and invades your nice plants. There is no getting rid of it. Mine was under 3-4 feet of snow all winter. I don't cut it back until spring. Sun, shade it doesn't seem to matter. The hummingbird moths love it as well as bees, birds and regular hummingbirds. Doesn't seem to need a lot of water. I water it about once a week. I don't have weeds in mine, I don't think they could survive.
Tall Phlox: In the Fall, I am to cut back the stems to 2-3 " from soil. Then what? What I have now are in pots.....Do I put them undercover to protect from too much rain? thanks
You can trim down the same way and simply move the pots into an unheated garage. Do not water. It goes dormant. The tall type won’t grow as a houseplant.
I'm new to phlox. Planted 2 tall ones and I think bunnies ate on them. Maybe it was user error, too! Can I root the stems if I place them in water (for how long?) and try to replant them later. I do still have the survivors and they're holding on! Thanks!
Hi, Judy,
You might have some luck rooting the stems. Try it. It could take a couple or a few weeks; hard to know. In the spring, you can also divide the existing plants. Each division should have 3 to 5 vigorous with roots attached. Plant them with the crowns an inch or so below the soil surface. To ensure that the remaining plants survive think about “fencing” them: Get a quart container such as a deli might put potato salad in. Cut off the bottom. See if you can drop the round tube over the plant to ground level. If you can’t, slice the side of the container and then put it around the plant. It might help to deter rabbits.
We hope this helps!
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