Carolina Phlox is a lovely long-flowering native with clusters of purple-pink flowers. It provides a splash of color after most spring blooms have finished and before many summer perennials start to flower.
- Compact habit
- Flowers attract pollinators
- Long flowering period
Details
- 20 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide
- Clump-forming habit
- Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6, 7, 8, and 9
Flowering period
In central North Carolina, flowering starts in mid to late May and continues well into July.
How to grow
Prefers sun, though plants will still bloom in part shade. Planting in moist, well-drained soil will produce strong growth and lots of flowers.
Care and maintenance
Cut back dead stems before growth starts in the spring. Trimming back plants by half after flowering in summer will often promote another flush of flowers in the fall.
Where to plant
At the front of flower beds, patio gardens, and along paths.
When to plant
Carolina Phlox can be planted year-round in the South, with spring and fall being the best times for plant and gardener.
Spacing
Between two and three feet apart when planting in a group.
When will my plant flower?
Plants purchased before May should produce some flowers in their first year.
Native habitat and range
Carolina Phlox can be found growing along woodland borders throughout the eastern United States.