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03.05.2024 - 14:11 / hgic.clemson.edu / Barbara H Smith
Blooming in spring, woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), a native wildflower, attracts pollinators to the shade garden. Butterflies, bees, and moths visit it for nectar and pollen. It blooms as other shade perennials like hostas, astilbe, and ferns are starting to grow.
Flowering usually begins in April and can last into May. The most common flower color is light blue. Some varieties have white, lavender, or rose flowers. The flowers are sweetly scented and numerous.
Plant woodland phlox in part to full shade in USDA planting zones 3a through 8b. Morning sun and afternoon shade conditions encourage more blooms. Plant it in soil that is well-drained and high in humus. In its native habitat, it grows underneath deciduous trees where decayed leaves provide ample organic matter.
Plants grow 12 to 15 inches tall when blooming. The foliage is semi-evergreen and low growing. Woodland phlox will slowly spread and form a mat. Also, it can spread by seeds. It is not rabbit or deer resistant.
In the early spring, flowering plants can be found in nurseries and garden centers. The cultivar ‘Blue Moon’ is one I see every spring in my local nursery. In addition, check seasonal native plant sales for it.
For more information, see HGIC 1181, Phlox.
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Phlox can be an easy grown half hardy annual suitable for any garden situation particularly a cottage garden. It’s compact bushy habit makes it ideal for planting as drifts of colour, as border edging or in containers. This Phlox differs from the perennial varieties that grow taller and have more scent. Never the less annual Phlox is worth the little effort that is required
Mildew is a white powdery fungus that looks unsightly on these leaves. Mildew is a sign of stress in a plant and usually arises from damp air with poor circulation. It is prevalent in my garden now Autumn is here in force. It is of less concern in winter as the cold will take care of the current problem until next year at least.
On a hot summers day (what is that ? ed.) there is nothing better than a woodland walk with its distinctive scents and surprising colours. Well spaced deciduous trees often provide the best displays as the filtered sun helps develop then highlight the woodland growers.
What do Acute Oak Decline, The Red Squirrel Survival Trust and the silviculture reduction of oak rotation from 140 years to 100 years have in common? I can think of two or three answers around the work of the late Peter Goodwin.
This could be an old variety old variety ‘Brigadier’ from pre WW ll. It has strong colouring with vivid pink-red flowers and a striking magenta eye. Like most paniculata varieties it has a good fragrance.
“The biggest problem I encountered was with the Phlox I planted,” Dan wrote. “The leaves developed a terrible fungus and it slowed its growth terribly. When I first spotted it, I did some research and decided to use an organic fungicide. That worked alright, but the fungus came back. Then, I tried an organic remedy I found on the internet: spraying with a milk solution. That worked less well. The poor plants were so overcome with the black fungus that they eventually withered without flowering late in the summer. I finally cut them down. Now they are starting back with strong green growth and I’m pleased, but I wondered if you had any advice for treating Phlox fungus.”One of the best non-chemical ways to deal with powdery mildew, I replied, which Phlox paniculata is so prone to in our humid summer
“How rude of you,” the iridescent birds chattered, swooping madly overhead, then dive-bombing. “We are trying to mate here. Give a bird a little privacy.”“I have my mission, too,” I explained, one aimed at furthering the desired native plant species—little bluestem grass and asters and goldenrods, mostly. Around early May, I use the tractor’s mowing deck to behe
George Coombs managed the Trial Gardens at Mt. Cuba Center native plant garden and research facility in Delaware. In past conversations, George–who in 2019 was promoted to Mt. Cuba’s Director of Horticulture–has helped me make our way through the daunting selections of Heuchera, Monarda, and Baptisia. George and the trial garden team spent three years evaluating 94 different sun-loving selections of Phlox for eye and butterfly appeal and mildew resistance, plus 43 shade-garden choices, too. Read along as you listen to the February 26, 2018 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).phlox q&a with george coombsQ. Whenever one of your reports arrives I feel very lucky to
“Hey, let’s make it another edition of our Desert Island Plants series on the radio show and podcast,” we decided. And so favorite natives of spring are the topic this week.Talking about our most-loved spring native woodland perennials—from blue cohosh (just emerging one April, above) and merrybells, to various trilliums and Virginia bluebells and more—is a perfect fit for Ken Druse. His books “The Natural Shade Garden” in 1992 and “The New Shade
Do trees make you happy? Ray Mears shares his love of British woodlands with us. He reveals how we can best enjoy them, and inspire our planting choices to capture some of that woodland magic in our own gardens. Get ready for a guide to plant history, foraging, wildlife spotting and using nature to guide yourself home.
Woodland gardens have a unique charm that transports us to a world of tranquility and natural beauty.