Garden Phlox

  • Post published:08/04/2010
  • Post comments:3 Comments
Garden phlox

Garden phlox can be one of the stars of  the summer garden.  I bought this unnamed pink phlox paniculata at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale last year and it looks great this year. There is no sign of mildew, but I can’t say whether that is because of the weather, or whether this is a mildew resistant variety.  Many gardeners avoid phlox because of the mildew which is common, but mildew does not hurt the plant, and I am skilled at ignoring things that others find more than annoying.

Miss Lingaard phlox in August

Late this spring I dug up some white Miss Lingaard phlox from among the weeds in the abandoned Sunken Garden and transplanted it into this bed. It doesn’t look like much this year, but I am looking forward to next spring.  Miss Lingaard is an old variety also known as Wedding Phlox because it blooms in June, earlier than most phlox. It has the benefit of being mildew resistant.

I tried to buy David, a Perennial Plant of the Year in 2002, but couldn’t find it anywhere. I guess I didn’t start early enough. This is a popular plant because of its big white flower heads – and mildew resistance.

Blue Paradise phlox

This spring I bought Blue Paradise at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale, and I got better bloom than I expected – but next year!  The color of this phlox is gorgeous, and it is supposed to be very mildew resistant.

Phlox is a wonderful plant for the summer garden in pale and brilliant shades, with eyes of different colors, and now even dwarf varieties that are happy in a container.  It only needs sun and ordinary garden soil. If you cut it back after bloom, you might get a second flush.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Rose

    This is a plant I’ve avoided for years just because of the mildew tendencies, but after seeing several gorgeous specimens of it this summer, I intend to add some phlox to my garden next summer. We have one in our MG Idea Garden that is five feet tall this year and is spectacular.

    A belated Happy Birthday, Pat! Any chance you have a piece of that yummy birthday cake left?:)

  2. Lisa at Greenbow

    I love phlox. I have several varieties and I would have more if I had more sun. They do ok in partial sun too. I do have to stake them because they lean toward the sun but other than that they do well.

  3. Pat

    Rose – The cake is gone! As for mildew, ignore it, or look for those varieties of phlox that are resistant.
    Lisa – They are pretty adaptable, and able to take some shade. Lucky for us.

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