Flower Index Index by Family Set 1 Set 2 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7

Phlox paniculata | Tall Phlox, Garden Phlox, Summer Phlox

First bloom dates:

2017 June 25

2024 June 10 (purple) June 4 (Miss Mary)

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Phlox paniculata | Tall Phlox, Garden Phlox, Summer Phlox

Polemoniaceae (Jacob's Ladder or Phlox Family) Pronounced pol-uh-MOH-nee-ay-see-eye)

Pronounced FLOX Puh-nick-u-LAH-tuh

The name "paniculata" means flowers on panicles. The flower heads are called panicles which relates to the name of the species.

Varieties in my garden:

1. Purple – From my friend Susan Brannock in the late 1990's when our sons were in cub scouts together. I have images of it in 2002, but I have not looked before that when I took film photos instead of digital photos. My purple tall phlox are shorter in the raised bed and much taller in the ground. My purple Tall Phlox has been moved all over my garden beds. In my video of 2011 it is in the front and back yard garden beds. Some similar varieties that may be possibilities are 'Carolina' or 'Robert Poore'.

2. Peacock Cherry Phlox (this is on page 63); 18 inches high

3. Phlox paniculata 'Miss Mary'; planted in 2021; 18 to 22 inches high

Traditional Tall Phlox grows from 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.

Phlox are categorized as early season, midseason, and late season bloomers, so planting different varieties helps the garden to bloom all summer and into Autumn.

Powdery mildew can be a problem.

In all the years I have had Tall Phlox, I have never had problems with insects. However, in 2023 many of my patches of Tall Phlox did not bloom and I took photos to share and asked questions. I learned about the Phlox bug (Hemiptera), Lopidea davisi! It is a reddish-orange and black bug like a beetle and it pierces the plant and sucks plant juices, kind of like a mosquito does to skin. It mainly feeds on the Phlox and it causes serious damage. In my case, the leaves were severely damage with dark spots (that start out yellow) and it never bloomed. The plant has come back in 2024 and I am treating them for bugs in hopes this does not happen again. The Phlox bug hides underneath the leaves so it is not easily seen before damage is done. It has two generations per year, one in the May and June and again in the July.

There are over 90 species of Lopidea with a common name of Scarlet Plant Bugs. As I understand it, certain species host on certain plants, but might eat other plants. In other words, the plant certain is where they lay their eggs for breeding. For instance, Lopidea confluenta uses the daylilly as its host. They all look like different colored beetles to me!

The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) will also destroy the Tall Phlox.

It is an upright plant and almost looks like Wild Sweet William as a Tall Phlox.

The flowers are fragrant.

I deadhead the flowers and am left with nice grassy foliage for the garden season. In the Autumn I cut it down to the ground.

Plants can be divided in the early Spring when they first appear out of the ground.

I saved these tags just in case some day they appear in my garden again, but I think hubby weeded them the year after they were planted:

Phlox Pilosa | Downy Phlox, Prairie Phlox

Pronounced FLAH-ks pil-OH-suh - I bought this from the native plant sale at the conservation building.

The name "pilosa" means "hairy" and references the soft white hairs on the stems, leaves, and corolla tubes. It is 12 to 24 inches tall.

Phlox Paniculado 'Bartwelve' Llama Rosa; planted in 2020; 12 to 18 inches high

Phlox paniculata 'Sweet Summer Surprise'; Planted in 2021; 28 inches high

Phlox paniculata 'Pink Flame'; planted in 2022; 18 to 24 inches high - back of tag mentions Bartwelve

In 2001, it seems I had a Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) (Brassicaceae – Mustard- Family) in my yard. It looks much like the tall phlox. Dames Rocket has four petals and Tall Phlox has five petals. That is how you tell them apart. It seems Dames Rocket is also invasive and can smother out other native plants, so I doubt I will ever have one again.

2024