Phlox Guide

With Phlox varieties ranging from 4 inches to 4 feet, there are options for every inch of the landscape. All bloom prolifically in the sunny garden, whether in beds, borders, as foundation plantings, in rock gardens or on slopes.

Genus (Botanical) Name: Phlox

Common Name: Garden Phlox, Creeping Phlox

Growing Zones: Depending on variety, 4-8 or 3-9

Bloom Time: Some varieties are spring blooming, while others bloom mid-summer through fall.

Why We Love Phlox

There are so many reasons to grow Phlox.
Varieties for spring, as well as mid-summer-through-fall flowering.
Their delightful fragrance deters deer.
Super long-blooming and hardy.
Available in a swirl of colors including coral, orange, purple, red, white, yellow, two-toned and striped.
Large, fragrant blooms for magnificent bouquets.
A favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds.
Varieties for in-ground and container gardens.
Easy to grow, low maintenance and high performance.

Types of Phlox

All of the Phlox varieties we offer are disease-resistant. Below are a few of the many top-performing, superb Phlox plants we grow here at Bluestone.

Creeping Phlox

Phlox Apple Blossom will awaken the winter landscape in early spring with pinkish-white star-shaped blooms. This beautiful variety is a main attraction for butterflies, but not for deer or rabbits. At just 4 inches high, Apple Blossom blankets borders, rock gardens, slopes and other areas with sweet, dainty cheer.

Phlox Eye Shadow is a feast for the eyes, with luminous purple flowers and deep purple centers. Blooms emerge late spring, dazzling people and pollinators through early summer. This variety spreads rapidly and cascades gracefully over rocks and down slopes.

Garden Phlox

Phlox David bursts with pristine white clusters of flowers late summer through early fall. This Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year brings refreshing, timeless elegance to the garden. Butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators flock to the fragrant, oversized flowers. This is a great choice for colder zones.

Phlox Coral Creme Drop™ Scented coral flowers bloom for months, to the delight of people and pollinators. Mid-summer to early fall, this effervescent color calms and invigorates, similar to the peaceful flow of coral reefs.

Woodland Phlox

Phlox May Breeze lights up the garden mid-to-late spring with fragrant white flowers. Unlike other varieties, Woodland Phlox thrive in shady gardens as well as in full sun. This early season ground cover is one of the first to provide nectar to butterflies in spring.

Phlox Blue Moon Fragrant, violet flower heads drift above green foliage, forming a marvelous floral mat in dry, shady areas. Mid-spring through early summer, Phlox Blue Moon is a butterfly haven.

Take a look at all our vibrant Phlox varieties, to find some suitable selections for your garden.

Growing Tips for Phlox

Planting:

Water the plants well the night before planting. Cut off the plastic wrap (if any) at the top of the pot. All our packaging can be recycled.
You may find it helpful to set out your plants where you intend to plant them. When your arrangement looks pleasing, begin to dig holes (our version of the “measure twice—cut once” school of planting).
Plant our biodegradable pot and plant together, a little below the soil line. The roots will quickly grow right through the porous pot and into the surrounding soil.
Space plants to provide good air circulation, and help prevent mildew.
Avoid planting near trees and shrubs that compete for moisture and nutrients.

Light: Choose areas where plants will get sufficient light of eight hours or more each day. The exception is Woodland Phlox which thrive in both shade and sun.

Soil: Moist, humus-rich soil.

Fertilizer: Add some compost or other organic matter to enrich the soil and increase its ability to retain moisture.

Water: Phlox will not tolerate drought conditions or soggy soil. Water judiciously.

Pruning: For Garden Phlox, cut back by 1/2 in late spring/early summer to encourage more compact plants. Shear off spent blooms just above foliage. Creeping Phlox can be trimmed back after flowering to the low green foliage, if new growth is desired. No need to prune either variety in fall. Clean-up winter damage in spring.

Dividing: Phlox can be divided every 3-5 years in spring or fall. In spring, just as new growth appears, dig up the plant and divide clump with a sharp knife or spade into at least 2 or 3 shoots and a portion of the root system. Plants divided in fall should be mulched with a 4-6” layer of straw or pine needles to prevent heaving. Remove mulch in early spring. Here you’ll find additional tips on dividing plants.

Winterizing: Use a thin layer of mulch only in very cold areas for winter protection, and remove the mulch before spring thaw.

Add Some Phlox Magic to Your Garden

Easy-going, versatile Phlox flowers are a tried-and-true garden staple. Low-growing/creeping varieties provide dense, sweeping color, while tall Garden Phlox anchor the garden with beauty and charm. All offer rich, long-lasting colors, fragrant blooms, and visually pleasing shapes. Add some enchantment to your garden with fabulous Phlox.