Colorful phlox can brighten up gardens

by Jan Wilson
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 9:32 AM MDT

One of Wyoming’s more popular spring flowers is the moss or creeping phlox: a low-growing perennial that provides a nice splash of bright color, especially in rock gardens or between stepping stones.

While this plant is quite popular in our area, there is another variety, the taller garden phlox, which was a common plant in most gardens many years ago.

Your grandmother’s garden may have contained this basic plant in shades ranging from white to magenta tones, but new hybrids are appearing in many shades of blue and purple and even orange, red and bright pink.

These tall, hardy plants usually reach a height of 3n4 feet and are great for the middle or back of perennial gardens. Some of the varieties are quite fragrant and make nice cut flowers for bouquets. They bloom in mid- to late-summer and most are hardy in our Zone 4.

The plants like an average, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. They can be planted on the east or west side of buildings where they are in shade for part of the day.

They do like good air circulation to help prevent powdery mildew, which caused some difficulty in the older varieties. With our arid, windy climate, this should not be too much of a problem here, plus many of the newer varieties are listed as mildew resistant. Phlox do appreciate occasional fertilizer and fairly regular watering.

This heirloom plant, which was a staple for many years in gardens across the country, seems to be enjoying a resurgence of popularity. Some of the lively new shades might be just the thing to brighten a Wyoming garden this summer.

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