Discovering the charm of phloxes: Late summer’s blooming beauties
As summer gradually winds down, the garden still has a delightful surprise in store: the vibrant, resilient and charming phloxes. These enchanting perennials are currently in full bloom in my August garden, adding a burst of color and fragrance to the late summer landscape. If you’re new to the world of phloxes, you’re in for a treat as I explore their allure, discuss their susceptibility to mildew, and cover their heights, colors or variegated varieties, cultivation, and appeal as cut flowers in arrangements. Perfect to discover the charm of phloxes!
The allure of phloxes
Phloxes, from the genus Phlox in the Polemoniaceae family, are known for their star-shaped flowers typically arranged in dense, fragrant clusters, known as panicles or corymbs They can vary in size and shape depending on the species. Each flower has five petals, often with a slight overlap, creating a charming, symmetrical appearance. The blooms come in a wide array of colors, including white, pink, red, purple, and even bi-colored varieties, making them a versatile and visually appealing choice for garden landscapes.
These flowers not only add aesthetic value but also attract pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds, enhancing the ecological health of the garden.. They are perfect for garden beds, borders, and even containers, making them a versatile addition to any garden. Their long blooming period ensures that your garden remains lively and colorful well into the season.
A historical challenge: Mildew susceptibility
Perennial phloxes have long been challenged by their susceptibility to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves and stems, often leading to disfigured foliage and diminished blooms. This issue can also affect nearby plants, such as peonies in my garden.
Modern solutions: Mildew-resistant varieties
Thankfully, horticulturists have been hard at work developing new phlox varieties that are more resistant to powdery mildew. These new cultivars maintain the beauty and charm of traditional phloxes while offering improved resilience against this common garden problem. Varieties like ‘David’ and ‘Jeana’ are among the popular choices known for their mildew resistance, ensuring that your phloxes remain healthy and stunning throughout their blooming period.
Varied heights for diverse garden designs
Phloxes come in a variety of heights, making them versatile additions to any garden layout. The tall garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) can reach heights of 3 to 4 feet, creating a striking vertical presence ideal for the back of borders or as a focal point. On the other hand, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), also known as moss phlox, stays low to the ground at about 6 inches tall, forming a colorful carpet perfect for ground cover or rock gardens. There are also intermediate varieties, such as woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), which grows to around 12 to 18 inches, suitable for mid-border plantings or shaded woodland areas. This range of heights allows gardeners to creatively layer phloxes within their garden designs, ensuring continuous blooms at different levels. I am particularly interested in cultivars of Phlox paniculata to add height and late season’s color as companion plants to oriental lilies in my peony garden.
From traditional colors to new ones
Phloxes have traditionally offered classic hues of white, pink, and purple, creating a timeless summer palette. Recent breeding efforts have introduced exciting new colors. Varieties with two-tone colors, such as ‘Cotton Candy,’ with its soft lavender-pink flowers and cotton candy eyes, and ‘Bright Eyes’ with soft pink beaming red eyes provide a captivating dimension to garden displays.’Peppermint Twist’ is a recent addition to my garden, featuring delightful blooms with pink and white stripes in a pinwheel pattern. Newer varieties like ‘Red Riding Hood’ and SUPER KA-POW ‘Coral’ bring bold, vibrant red and coral, while ‘Green Orchid’ offers a unique greenish-white bloom, adding a fresh twist to traditional garden designs.
Variegated phloxes
Variegated foliage adds an extra layer of visual interest to certain phlox varieties. ‘Nora Leigh’ features striking green leaves edged in creamy white, contrasting beautifully with its soft pink flowers. ‘Olympus’ boasts leaves with emerald green and light yellow tinged with cherry red until its fragrant flowers appear. These variegated varieties provide a dynamic, textured look, ensuring phloxes remain captivating throughout the growing season.
Caring for phloxes
To ensure your phloxes thrive, follow these tips:
- Location: Plant in a sunny spot with good air circulation to help prevent mildew.
- Watering: Water at the base to keep foliage dry.
- Spacing: Provide ample space to reduce humidity around plants.
- Maintenance: Remove affected leaves promptly and keep the garden clean. Prune the plant to the ground in the fall. Avoid composting diseased foliage.
- Propagation: Divide the plant in the spring. Division can help rejuvenate some cultivars that are no longer blooming as profusely.
Phloxes in arrangements
Garden phlox, with their tall and sturdy stems, are ideal for floral arrangements, pairing beautifully with blooms like dahlias, lilies or hydrangeas. To extend their vase life, cut the stems when a few buds are still unopened. If the flowers appear wilted after picking, soak them in very cold water—they’ll quickly revive. With daily fresh water, they should stay vibrant for about five days.
Embracing phloxes in your garden is a wonderful way to enjoy late summer blooms and extend the season’s beauty. With the advent of mildew-resistant varieties, growing these lovely flowers has never been easier. I’ve recently become more captivated by phloxes and will be on the lookout for exciting new cultivars to add to my collection.
