PerennialsPhlox paniculata
Garden Phlox
Garden Phlox is a stately border plant with large, dome-shaped flower clusters in pink, purple, or white. The blooms release a sweet fragrance and appear from July to September. Phlox is indispensable in the classic cottage garden.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Height
- 60–120 cm
- Spread
- 40–60 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 4–8
- Family
- Polemoniaceae
- Evergreen
- No
- Flower colors
- pink, purple, white
- Wildlife value
- bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Bloom period
Care guide
Plant in full sun in moist, fertile soil. Ensure good air circulation between plants to prevent powdery mildew. Water at the base and avoid wetting the foliage. Fertilise in spring and early summer.
Pruning tips
Remove spent flower clusters to encourage repeat blooming. Thin stems to five or six per clump in spring for larger flower heads. Cut dead foliage back after the first frost.
Good companions
PerennialsEchinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower is a sturdy perennial with distinctive pink-purple petals surrounding an orange-brown cone. The flowers appear from July to September and are a magnet for butterflies and bees. In autumn and winter, the seed heads attract goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.
PerennialsRudbeckia fulgida
Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan blooms from July through October with radiant golden-yellow petals surrounding a dark brown center. The plant is virtually indestructible, spreads gradually, and suits large borders and prairie-style gardens. After flowering, the seed heads provide food for birds.
PerennialsDelphinium elatum
Larkspur
Larkspur is an imposing border plant whose tall spikes of blue to purple flowers become the focal point of any garden. It blooms in June and July and can reach up to 180 cm. The plant is toxic if ingested, but indispensable for those seeking dramatic vertical accents.