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Growing Phlox
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Phlox
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Phlox
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Phlox are perennials and a favorite choice among wildflowers. These plants sport many star-shaped, colorful flowers when in bloom.
Because there are so many varieties, you can find a type of phlox for almost any garden. Phlox make great ground cover, and you can compliment them with other varieties of ground cover. They are easy to care for and low maintenance. Add some phlox to any bouquet for some nice fragrance, too.
Planting
- Use a garden fork or tiller to prepare your garden bed. Loosen the soil to about 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost.
- It is easier to grow phlox from cuttings/transplants than seeds.
- Plant phlox in the spring and space the plants 1 to 2 feet apart. If you are moving 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.
There are three different categories for growth requirements:
- Border phlox (like Carolina phlox, Meadow phlox, and Garden phlox) like moist, well-drained, and average to rich soil, and full to partial sun.
- Low, mounding phlox (like Sand phlox and Chattahoochee) like average, well-drained, sandy or loamy soil, and full sun.
- Woodland species (like Blue phlox and Creeping phlox) like evenly moist, humus-rich soil, and full to partial sun.
Creeping phlox
Care
- If you receive less than 1 inch of rain a week, remember to regularly water your plants throughout the summer.
- Each spring, put a thin layer of compost and a 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants to help keep the soil moist and control weeds.
- Remember to remove the dead/faded flowers so that your plants can rebloom.
- If you have tall phlox, cut the stems back to about 1 to 2 inches above the soil after the first killing frost. (See local frost dates.) Divide tall garden phlox every 2 to 3 years to ensure healthy and disease-free plants.
Pests/Diseases
- Powdery mildew
- Stem canker
- Rust
- Southern blight
- Stem nematodes
- Leaf spots
- Leaf miners
- Caterpillars
Recommended Varieties
- Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), which makes a great ground cover, especially for planting under shrubs (because they like shady spots)
- ‘Wagon Wheel’ (Phlox adsurgens), for its pretty salmon-pink flowers (whose petals resemble the spokes of a wheel)
- ‘Sternenzauber’ (Phlox drummondii), whose flowers are fringed and pointed, which make them look like stars
Wit & Wisdom
Native Americans called April’s full Moon the “Full Pink Moon” because it heralded the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers.
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Reader Comments
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B
I Havre standing phlox that have turned Brown what should I do
Creeping flock
May 17 I live in WV is it too late to plant creeping flock this year... and when is best time to plant
when to plant?
Spring is the best time to plant creeping phlox, so now would be fine. We’re about a month from summer, officially, so this should give it time to become acclimated.
Trimming phlox
I also would like to know if I can control the height of phlox by trimming it a few times in May and early June. I live in NJ
pruning phlox
Phlox is pruned back AFTER spring blooming season to help maintain the form you prefer. This is generally late May (after flowering).You want to make sure there are no buds left to open before you begin this process. Using garden shears, cut back the plant by a third or half. Do this annual after each spring blooming season and you’ll get back on track.
Tall Phlox
I live in the Shenandoah Valley. My phlox gets 5 feet tall. Right now (4/18/18j it is around 6 to 8 inches. Can I cut them back to try and decrease the height?
Tall Phlox
We're in the Northeast. It's late May and phlox is already about 27-30 inches high no buds yet . Last year they got too tall. Should we cut back now to contain them.flowers were lovely but the height was unattractive.
Did not cut back
I live in Ohio, it is mid-April, I never cut my Garden Phlox back. I see tiny buds on the plant...should I just leave it since it is already budding or should I cut it back?
Thank you!
cutting back phlox
Cut back phlox after bloom. Make sure all buds have bloomed. Generally, the time to cut back is late May (after bloom) to mid-August.
Creeping Flock
I live in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. When can I plant Creeping Flock?
When to Plant Creeping Phlox
Hi Jeremy,
Depending on the type, you would plant spring-blooming phlox in the fall and fall-blooming phlox in the spring. Plant fall-blooming phlox in your region in the spring at least after the last frost of the season. We hope this helps!
Very Tall Phlox
Greetings!
I have 4 very tall plants growing in my garden. I planted some phlox last year and this 4 or 5 of the plants are at least 10 ft. tall. These plants have not bloomed yet, but look like the other phlox plants that have grown to about 4-5 ft tall. I don't remember plantings these tall plants. Do phlox get to 10 ft? I've been gardening for many years and have never seen phlox close to this tall. Thanks!
Pink & white Phlox
The Phlox I have is pink and white(Phlox paniculata ). It is quite tall--3.5- 4 feet. I just bought a pound of seed on line and plan on starting lots of new Phlox plots. The deer are not at all interested in it, so that is a plus! The plants have been coming back every year for many years; I just love em! I am careful to gather the seeds before the birds get them-- I buy plenty of seed for the birds all winter long.
I have moved them around and they seem hardy, requiring little or no care.
tall phlox
Apparently there are some pretty tall phlox varieties: Border phlox Phlox paniculata “David” is one; Mile High Pink Phlox is another; Caspian, Hesperis, Kirmeslandler, Old Cellarhole, Robert Poore, Russian Violet are others. Heights of these mention range from suggested 5 feet to about 6 feet. It may be that you have perfect conditions that inspire yours to reach even higher! As for how they got into your garden…an animal or bird may have transported the seed but it’s impossible to know for certain.
garden phlox
I'm wondering if I can plant these just alone in a separate spot ...will they grow into like a bush?
Phlox in bunches
You should be able to achieve that effect, if the conditions—soil, sun, and water—are appropriate. Take note of the variety, ask questions about height, and you will not be disappointed. There are many varieties from which to choose (“ground cover” will not give you the desired effect).
Tall Phlox
My neighbor just gave me some tall Phlox that he dug up in his yard. It the middle of August it I replant them will they come back next spring?
Transplanting phlox in summer
You should have no problem. Phlox are perennial. Take note of the guidance above and be prepared to give it time to settle in.
ground layering phlox
I have tall phlox and am wondering if I can propagate them via ground layering?
how to propagate phlox
The general guidance for propagating phlox seems to lean toward stem cuttings dipped in rooting stimulant powder.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension explains in detail:
Generally, tip cuttings are easier to propagate than root cuttings. Select second growth of phlox for cuttings. Make tip cuttings 3 to 6 inches long. Treat the base of the cutting with a root stimulant. Leave all foliage on the cutting except the part that will be below the soil line. Insert one cutting per peat pot. Place peat pots of tip cuttings in a lightly shaded place. Cover with a sheet of clear plastic. Check regularly to make sure the cuttings do not dry out. When cuttings do not pull easily out of the soil, they have begun to root. Make holes in the plastic sheet to increase the exposure of the cuttings to the air. This will harden the cuttings. Every few days, enlarge the holes or make new ones.
You can also make root cuttings of phlox. Dig the plants in late summer after they have bloomed. Select pencil-sized roots; cut them into 4-inch sections. Put each piece in a peat pot. Prepare a tray of peat pots as for seeds, except the soil mix should be 2 parts sand, 1 part soil, and 1 part peat moss. Water thoroughly.
Late blooms this year?
I have a couple of phlox varieties that have bloomed beautifully the past few years - even after I separated and transplanted them. This year, I don't see flowers on my tall, white David plants. The pink smaller phlox (forgot name) have bloomed nicely. I live in CT near shoreline. Is anyone else noticing a bloom problem this year? They are very full and green...just no flowers :(
no flowers on phlox
This just happens sometimes. Is your phlox getting enough sunlight? It needs 4 to 6 hours of DIRECT sunlight at minimum. As you mentioned, you can also fertilize. Applying Miracle-Gro one time per month should be ample. The only other thing we can think of is crowding. And we have read that lack of pollintors can be a cause.
White Garden Phlox David
I live in MI in zone 5-6 and my David phlox is just now starting to bloom, which is late for them. Our weather has been very changeable and we have had a lot of strong winds. They are looking pretty good now.
Making paper from Phlox - Making Dye from Phlox
I have an abundance of wild phlox and would try to make dye and/or paper using the leaves. Does anyone have any suggestions?
phlox crafts
If you are new to either craft, you might check out a book or two at your local public library, or read online about materials, techniques, and equipment involved. Sometimes you can also find classes on each craft; the experience is fun and really helps one get a feel for what the craft is like. Oftentimes, you also learn invaluable tips from the instructor that save effort or cost, or produce especially beautiful results. For dyeing, you might need to use a mordant, such as alum, to set the color. There are also natural mordants such as sumac. You might be interested in this site about natural plant dyes:
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/dyes.shtml
Perhaps you might also enjoy reading about this craft with natural plant dyes that our staff tried one time:
http://www.almanac.com/blog/blogs/dyeing-easter-eggs-naturally
Have fun!
Fall planting?
We are moving into a new house in August (Massachusetts) and would like to get a start on landscaping. I see a lot of advice to plant phlox in Spring, but also that you can divide in Fall. Would it be ok to start planting in early fall so that plants can establish before next spring?
Fall Planting
Hi Mary,
Yes, you can transplant phlox plants from a greenhouse from now until early fall. They will establish before the fall frost and continue growing in the spring.
Candy Store Grape Lollipop Phlox
I just bought 3 lollipop Phlox last week Saturday - at a greenhouse ( SE MN) they were even planted the same day. We are currently living on a farm site that we have had to regain control of ...
I water good when planted. Then the next week it rain at least every other day if not daily.
I looked at the three plants planted in a row on the south side of a small shed.. and ONE brown only at the bottom of all the stems right next to the ground... the top leaves still green.. it wasn't completely detached but close. When I looked at the ground, I did see a few ants around it... but i didn't see the ant hill or anything.
Why would one plant die that fast?
what can I do to help the other two?
Phlox bug
Hmm. We can’t be absolutely certain what the problem might be. Some say that overwatering (even if it’s rain) could be harmful to phox. Then we learned about Lopidea davisi—a bug that feeds on phlox and overwinters in dead phlox stems. You might want to contact the nursery and see if they will exchange the plants for you. If this is the problem, you need to cut back and dispose of infested stems and leaves. Apply insecticidal soap to the upper and lower sides of leaves and follow with a light horticultural oil. There is a picture of the bug and a few of infected plants here: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/hel...
We hope this helps.
Phlox
I planted 2 Phlox last year, they were beautiful all summer long...now is mid May and they have not come back yet...should I have any hope? or are they most likely dead? :(
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