Woodland Phlox

BY: Elizabeth Noll

The problem with phlox is waiting until midsummer for the blooms. But there’s a cure for that, and it’s called woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata). This fragrant and hardy wild phlox is a spring bloomer with pretty violet-blue flowers and glossy green leaves. It stays closer to the ground than its city cousins and spreads by rhizomes to form large colonies, so it will make a handsome ground cover over time. Hummingbirds and butterflies both like it. But best of all, it allows phlox fanatics to stop chewing their nails for a month or so.

Common name: Woodland phlox, blue phlox, wild sweet William
Botanical name: Phlox divaricata
Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3 to 8
Height: 8 to 20 inches
Family: Polemoniaceae

Growing conditions
• Sun: Part to full shade
• Soil: Rich, well-drained
• Moisture: Average to moist

Care
• Mulch: Mulch to preserve moisture in the soil.
• Pruning: None needed.
• Fertilizer: None needed.

Propagation
• By seed, division, and cuttings.

Pests and diseases
• Powdery mildew can be a problem. (www.gardeningclub.com)
• Spider mite infestations can show up during hot, dry weather. Rabbits like to snack on woodland phlox. (www.gardeningclub.com)

Garden notes
• Use woodland phlox as a ground cover in a shady area. Its rhizomes creep at a decent pace to form wide mats of glossy foliage. It’s perfect under deciduous trees, where it gets sun in early spring and shade after the trees leaf out.
• It’s also perfect for hiding the spent foliage of spring bulbs.
• Other good companions are bleeding heart, columbine, ferns, foamflower, and trillium.
• Don’t put woodland phlox in a sunny, dry spot—it won’t thrive.

Cultivars
• ‘Blue Moon’ has flowers that are darker blue than the species.
• The flowers of ‘Blue Perfume’ are said to be the most fragrant of all the cultivars.
• ‘Manita’ has white flowers with violet eyes.

All in the family
• Many species in the Phlox genus are garden favorites, including annual phlox (P. drummondii), garden phlox (P. paniculata), and moss phlox (P. subulata). Dozens of cultivars are available in a rainbow of colors.
• Polemoniaceae contains several genera, but few are familiar to U.S. gardeners. One we do know and love is Polemonium, or Jacob’s ladder, with 25 species.

Where to buy
• Lazy S’s Farm Nursery, Barboursville, VA, www.lazyssfarm.com
• Stone Silo Prairie Gardens, De Pere, WI, 920-336-1662, www.stonesiloprairie.com
• Sunlight Gardens, Andersonville, TN, 800-272-7396, www.sunlightgardens.com

(Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Phlox divaricata courtesy of the Kemper Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Garden.)

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Current Articles \| Archives \| Search Woodland Phlox Plant of the Week BY: Elizabeth Noll 0 The problem with phlox is waiting until midsummer for the blooms. But there’s a cure for that, and it’s called woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata). This fragrant and hardy wild phlox is a spring bloomer with pretty violet-blue flowers and glossy green leaves. It stays closer to the ground than its city cousins and spreads by rhizomes to form large colonies, so it will make a handsome ground cover over time. Hummingbirds and butterflies both like it. But best of all, it allows phlox fanatics to stop chewing their nails for a month or so. Common name: Woodland phlox, blue phlox, wild sweet William Botanical name: Phlox divaricata Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3 to 8 Height: 8 to 20 inches Family: Polemoniaceae Growing conditions • Sun: Part to full shade • Soil: Rich, well-drained • Moisture: Average to moist Care • Mulch: Mulch to preserve moisture in the soil. • Pruning: None needed. • Fertilizer: None needed. Propagation • By seed, division, and cuttings. Pests and diseases • Powdery mildew can be a problem. (www.gardeningclub.com) • Spider mite infestations can show up during hot, dry weather. Rabbits like to snack on woodland phlox. (www.gardeningclub.com) Garden notes • Use woodland phlox as a ground cover in a shady area. Its rhizomes creep at a decent pace to form wide mats of glossy foliage. It’s perfect under deciduous trees, where it gets sun in early spring and shade after the trees leaf out. • It’s also perfect for hiding the spent foliage of spring bulbs. • Other good companions are bleeding heart, columbine, ferns, foamflower, and trillium. • Don’t put woodland phlox in a sunny, dry spot—it won’t thrive. Cultivars • ‘Blue Moon’ has flowers that are darker blue than the species. • The flowers of ‘Blue Perfume’ are said to be the most fragrant of all the cultivars. • ‘Manita’ has white flowers with violet eyes. All in the family • Many species in the Phlox genus are garden favorites, including annual phlox (P. drummondii), garden phlox (P. paniculata), and moss phlox (P. subulata). Dozens of cultivars are available in a rainbow of colors. • Polemoniaceae contains several genera, but few are familiar to U.S. gardeners. One we do know and love is Polemonium, or Jacob’s ladder, with 25 species. Where to buy • Lazy S’s Farm Nursery, Barboursville, VA, www.lazyssfarm.com • Stone Silo Prairie Gardens, De Pere, WI, 920-336-1662, www.stonesiloprairie.com • Sunlight Gardens, Andersonville, TN, 800-272-7396, www.sunlightgardens.com (Text by Elizabeth Noll, photo of Phlox divaricata courtesy of the Kemper Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Garden.) Comments There are currently no comments, be the first to post one. Post Comment Only registered users may post comments.