8 Wisconsin Native Phlox Species
Phlox are easy-to-grow native perennials that come back reliably every season.
Phlox nectar is attractive to native bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Phlox puts on a
colorful show for several weeks from mid- to late summer. Its sweet perfume lures a variety
of butterflies, such as Swallowtails, Painted Ladies, Great Spangled Fritillaries, Sulphurs
and Skippers. Phlox is especially attractive to Bumble Bees and Honey Bees.
Phlox are perennials and a favorite choice—from ground cover blooming in early spring to the tall
phlox blooming in mid- to late summer. Read more to learn about native Phlox species and
about how to grow and care for your Phlox.
These plants sport many star-shaped, colorful flowers when in bloom. You can find a phlox for
almost any garden. Truly, their versatility can’t be overstated.
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Tall phlox are excellent as a colorful backdrop.
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Medium-height varieties can fill in any gaps.
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Low-growing phlox works great as a ground cover.
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Phlox are easy to grow even for the beginning gardener
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Phlox have a lovely fragrance
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Phlox can be propagated from stem cuttings
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Phlox are long-lived
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Phlox produce billows of blooms in mid-late summer in a range of colors
The Wild Blue Phlox and other Phlox species were one of the first native wildflowers
to be collected by European explorers and exported to Europe. Because this plant
cultivated well in Europe, it became a very popular flower.
In Victorian England, young women frequently carried bouquets of flowers, which
probably included some Wild Blue Phlox. This flower symbolized a proposal of love and
a wish of pleasant dreams.
The name 'Phlox' is derived from the Greek word meaning flame in reference to the intense
flower colors.
Fertilize garden phlox in early spring. Spread granular all-purpose fertilizer around the base of the
plant, following package directions. Top dressing the plants with a couple inches of compost will
add nutrients and help improve the soil.
After the flowers have faded, cutting off the spent flower heads will often promote a second flush
of flowers. It also keeps the plants from self-sowing (volunteer seedlings will be inferior to the
parent plant and should be treated as weeds). In the fall, cut back all stems to the ground and
remove them from the area to help minimize future disease problems.
When garden phlox becomes overcrowded, flower production starts to decrease. To maintain
a good show of flowers, you may need to divide the plants every 3 to 4 years. As long as the
plants continue to flower well, there’s no hurry to divide them.
Phlox are particularly susceptible to powdery mildew, a foliar
disease. Powdery mildew is typically just a cosmetic issue, yet in severe cases, the foliar disease
can cause significant defoliation and even plant death.
In general, the best method of controlling powdery mildew is prevention. Once the disease shows up
there isn’t a whole lot you can do to cure it, so putting in a little extra work ahead of time will give you
a much better chance of keeping your plants disease-free throughout the season. There are several
cultivars to choose from that are marketed as disease resistant to choose from.
That said, if you're planting phlox in an area prone to lots of moisture, you'll want to take preventative
measures to prevent the spread of fungus, regardless of the plant's claims of immunity.
The common names for Phlox species are very confusing. Different species may be called by
the very same names. Please be sure to check the species name when ordering plants to be
sure you are purchasing the type of Phlox you want!
Wisconsin Native Phlox Catalog
Creeping Phlox
Height: 6-12 inches
Bloom: Late Spring/Early Summer
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 5-9
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium
Color: Violet, Purple
Downy Phlox
Height: 1-2 feet
Bloom: Late Spring/Early Summer
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 4-9
Soil : Sand, Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium, Moist
Color: Purple, Pink
Garden Phlox
Height: 2-4 feet
Bloom: Late Summer/Early Fall
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 4-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium
Color: Pink, Purple, White
Moss Phlox
Height: 3-6 inches
Bloom Time: Spring
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium
Color: Violet
Sand Phlox
Height: 3-6 inches
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Summer
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 4-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: Blue, White
Smooth Phlox
Height: 2-4 feet
Bloom Time: Summer
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 4-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Color: Pink, Purple
Spotted Phlox
Height: 2-3 feet
Bloom Time: Late Summer/Early Fall
Sun: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium
Color: Pink, Purple
Wild Blue Phlox
Height: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Moist, Medium
Color: Blue
Are you skilled at identifying common native flowers? Test you knowlege and take this short quiz:
Flower Identification Quiz.
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