Garden Phlox

Garden phlox makes a big impact in the garden, it grows over five foot tall and its clumps get larger as it becomes established. Even one or two of them can brighten up a garden, especially when nothing else is in bloom. This feature is particularly valuable towards the end of summer, when the other perennials tend to fade. Garden phlox starts blooming in early June and will stay in bloom until the first frost. Remember to remove the spent flowers to entice it into producing new ones.

If you ever browsed through the plant nursery and wondered what was that lovely fragrance, there is a very strong possibility that you passed a clump of phlox. Their fragrance is quite strong, with high notes of linden flowers and cloves. Plant them close to a sitting outdoor area to enjoy on warm summer afte
oons, they never disappoint.

Garden Phlox is resilient and long lived, the plants in my garden have been there for decades, will bloom abundantly, does well in light shade, and even though established gardening practices recommend dividing its clumps every three to five years, it will do just fine with no interference at all. It self-sows, and the offspring tolerates transplanting very well and adapts to any soil type, which makes it a basic for areas with poor soil where other plants fail to thrive.

It tolerates drought very well, but does so by seeming to wilt, which will send the soft-hearted gardener rushing for the watering hose at the first sign of ‘distress’. By all means water it, its neighbors in the flower bed will thank you for it, but phlox itself will be just fine either way. I learned to read the floppy leaves of the ones in my garden like a very sensitive water gauge.

Because I had it in my garden for such a long time, I tend to take this plant for granted, so I decided to bring up its wonderful qualities, for people who may not be so familiar with it.