Family: Polemoniaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 151 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Phlox
Vegetable: False
Observations: NC. & E. U.S.A.
Description
The Garden phlox, scientifically known as Phlox paniculata, is a charming perennial plant that finds its roots in both North Central (NC) and Eastern (E) regions of the United States. This elegant species belongs to the Polemoniaceae family, a distinguished group known predominantly for their herbaceous flowering plants.
Phlox paniculata was first described in the authoritative botanical reference, Species Plantarum in 1753 by the renowned botanist Linnaeus, frequently abbreviated as L. This historical context underscores the plant’s long-standing place in the annals of botany and its enduring popularity among gardeners and horticulturists.
Renowned for its vibrant and fragrant blooms, the Garden phlox thrives in well-drained soils and is a staple in many garden designs due to its versatility and striking appearance. It features an array of colors, including shades of pink, white, red, and purple, making it an attractive choice for adding a splash of color to any garden setting. The blossoms typically appear in mid-summer and can last through early fall, providing a prolonged period of visual appeal and nectar for pollinators.
One of the notable attributes of Phlox paniculata is its upright growth habit, reaching heights of up to 3-4 feet. This makes it an excellent choice for border plantings or as a standout feature in mixed perennial beds. Furthermore, its lush foliage serves as an attractive backdrop when the plant is not in bloom.
Garden phlox also carries the added benefit of being relatively low maintenance. It flourishes in full sun to partial shade and requires regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist, although not waterlogged. Disease resistance, particularly to powdery mildew, has been improved in many modern cultivars. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage re-blooming and maintain a tidy appearance.
The rich history and extensive cultivation of Phlox paniculata have led to numerous horticultural varieties, each offering unique characteristics in terms of size, color, and bloom time. Whether used as a captivating centerpiece in garden compositions or a complementary plant in floral arrangements, the Garden phlox remains a beloved and essential element in the world of gardening.
Common Names
Eng: fall phlox, fall-pink, garden phlox, panicled phlox, perennial phlox, perennial-pink, phlox, summer phlox, sweet-william
Dan: have-floks, høst-floks
Deu: hoher stauden-phlox, rispige flammenblume, stauden-phlox
Por: flox
Nno: haustfloks
Swe: höstflox, syysleimu
Nob: høstfloks
Ces: plamenica metlinatá, plamenka latnatá
Fin: syysleimu
Lit: šluotelinis flioksas
Fra: phlox paniculé
Cym: fflocs, fflocsen
Lat: phlox
En: Garden phlox, Perennial phlox, Perennial-pink, Phlox, Panicled phlox, Fall phlox, Fall-pink, Summer phlox, Sweet-William, Perennials Phlox
Ar: قبس عثكولي
Hy: Բոցենի հուրանավոր
Be: Флёкс мяцёлчаты
Zh: 天蓝绣球
Cs: Plamenka latnatá, Plamenica metlinatá
Da: Have-floks, Høst-floks
Et: Aed-leeklill
Fi: Syysleimu
Fr: Phlox paniculé
De: Hoher Stauden-Phlox, Rispige Flammenblume, Stauden-Phlox
Hu: Lángvirág
Ja: Kusa-kyō-chiku-tō
Ko: 풀협죽도
La: Phlox
Lt: Šluotelinis flioksas
Ml: ഫ്ലോക്സ് പാനിക്കുലേറ്റ
Nb: Høstfloks
Nn: Haustfloks
Fa: فلوکس باغچهای
Pl: Floks wiechowaty
Pt: Flox
Ru: Флокс метельчатый
Sk: Flox metlinatý
Es: Grozdasta plamenka
Sv: Höstflox, Syysleimu
Zh-tw: 天藍綉球
Cy: Fflocsen, Fflocs
Synonyms
- Phlox brownii (F.Hässl.)
- Phlox omniflora (W.H.Baxter)
- Phlox macrophylla (Courtois ex Steud.)
- Phlox intermedia (Lodd. ex Sweet)
- Phlox divergens (Wender.)
- Phlox corymbosa (Sweet)
- Phlox cordata (Elliott)
- Phlox ingrum (Booth ex Bosse)
- Phlox thomsoniana (Bosse)
- Phlox elata (Penny ex G.Don)
- Phlox cruenta (Curtis ex Steud.)
- Phlox wheeleri (Bosse)
- Phlox × laeta (Penny ex G.Don)
- Phlox vernoniana (W.H.Baxter)
- Phlox americana (Sweet)
- Phlox broughtonii (Marnock)
- Phlox virginica (Lodd. ex Sweet)
- Phlox scabra (Sweet)
- Phlox bridgesii (Marnock)
- Phlox wheeleriana (Sweet)
- Phlox atrocaulis (W.H.Baxter)
- Phlox clarkioides (Poit.)
- Phlox pulchella (W.H.Baxter)
- Phlox thomsonii (Courtois ex Bosse)
- Phlox sickmannii (Lehm.)
- Phlox missourica (Salm-Dyck)
- Phlox ingramiana (Loudon)
- Armeria paniculata ((L.) Kuntze)
- Phlox decussata (G.F.Lyon ex Pursh)
- Phlox paniculata var. laxiflora (Brand)
- Phlox paniculata var. acuminata ((Pursh) A.Gray)
- Phlox tigrina (Wender.)
- Phlox acuminata (Pursh)
- Phlox acutifolia (Sweet)
- Phlox disticha (Sabine ex Sweet)
- Phlox philadelphica (Bosse)
- Phlox undulata (Aiton)
- Phlox brevifolia (Baum. ex Hoffmanns.)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Maine (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Utah (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Aug 3, 2018 by Jean-François Labrecque (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 26, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 13, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 17, 2021 by florian gallienne (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 20, 2019 by zspato (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 25, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 3, 2019 by Kjetil Hårtveit (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 13, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Oct 11, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 21, 2021 by Mariusz Staniszewski (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 27, 2019 by Denisa Jiříková (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 25, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 20, 2019 by zspato (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Aug 29, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 4, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Maria Eugênia Secco (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 24, 2020 by vincent ca (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 1, 2020 by Karine Attali (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jul 21, 2004 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jul 4, 2021 by Karsten Hoffmeyer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Gerrit Davidse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Marie-Andrée Mercier (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2927744)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:193615-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Phlox paniculata L.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb