Phloxy Ladies and Gents

Phlox paniculata, monarch butterfly among the Susans (2009)

The gardener at Clay and Limestone loves other phlox besides Phlox pilosa, the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox. Really, she does! PPPP~near the end of their bloom time this summer

Long time readers can't be surprised by that admission.
Phlox is a summer favorite in many of our gardens.
It's an easy peasy kind of plant.
How could you not love a plant that is still blooming after the summer we've had!
Way back before I knew anything about gardening and way before I figured out how to garden at C&L~summer phlox reigned supreme! I discovered them the first summer after we moved here. Their pretty lilac and pink blooms caught my eye blooming among the shrubs. Luckily for the garden, I knew nothing about deadheading or pinching for more bloom and they seeded all around the yard. Today there are dozens of plantings in shade, part shade and part sun.

They may have been a named variety at one time, if so, they had reverted to the pinks and lilacs of the species. I think the color lovely and have trouble seeing it as the same "muddy magenta" I've heard folks refer to for years. Magenta, pink, lilac, it matters not to me or the many pollinators that like to visit this easy care native. I've seen bees, moths and butterflies visit all summer. I've read that hummers visit it, too. But, I've not seen them. P paniculata "Laura" with Green Dragon and Globe Spice Heuchera in the shade.

They love moist, well draining, rich soil...What they get here is shallow, dry, clay soil that's been amended with compost, leaf mold and mulch. I do give them a nice big drink every week and that keeps them happy. Garden phlox is naturally occurring in the cooler eastern half of North America. If you can keep it moist with decent drainage; I think you can grow it most of your gardens (hardiness zones 3 to 8). The biggest problem I have had with phlox has been an attack of Phlox Bug~a nasty creature that sucks the plant juices and disfigures the plant. I cut the plant back after the first frost and trash the stalks....never composting them. Phlox bug over winters in the stalks and this takes care of most of them. You can read about my battle with them here.

Phlox glaberrima summer 2010

Earlier this summer P glaberrima came to live in the garden. This phlox needs the soil to be consistently moist. It's planted near a downspout, with a daily watered container very near it so that water drains onto the phlox roots. I love my phloxy.

I like to mix Phlox paniculata with native stokesia and daylilies in the sunnier Susan's bed (seen earlier this summer).

The soil is shallow there and I have to be diligent and water it once a week or they decline.

Most summers I don't deadhead them.
The result is a lovely mixture of pretty pinkish phlox
scattered here and there where ever they chance to set seed.

Isn't she lovely?
Not magenta at all!

We aren't sure which plants are the parents,
but, gladly welcome her sibling anywhere they want to grow.

Could it be P paniculata 'David'

Or, P paniculata 'Laura'?

We may never know, but as long as bees visit
and I let them seed about

C&L will have plenty of pretty pink Phlox paniculata

I'm so glad you stopped by, I've sure missed visiting with you....It won't be long before we can sit on the porch and have a nice long talk. It's just a tad too hot and humid right now.
xxooGail