Phlox paniculata explained

Phlox paniculata is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae). It is native to parts of the eastern and central United States. It is extensively cultivated in temperate regions as an ornamental plant^[1] and has become established in the wild in scattered locales in other regions.^[2] Common names include fall phlox, garden phlox, perennial phlox, summer phlox, and panicled phlox.

Description

Phlox paniculata is an erect herbaceous perennial growing to 120cm (50inches) tall by 100cm (00inches) wide, with opposite, simple leaves on slender green stems. The flowers are NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) in diameter, often strongly fragrant and borne in summer through fall (autumn).^[3] The flowers are grouped in panicles (with many branching stems), hence the specific epithet paniculata.^[4] Typical flower colors in wild populations are pink or purple (rarely white).^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Fall phlox is native to parts of the central and eastern United States. It occurs as an introduced species in other parts of the United States, Canada,, Europe, and Asia. In the Chicago Region it is questionably native, or native populations may have all been destroyed: "populations in our area appear to be escapes from gardens to nearby woods and waste ground, which no doubt accounts for all collections since 1945".

In its natural range, it grows along streambanks and in moist wooded areas.

Cultivation

Phlox paniculata is grown largely for its showy fragrant flowers in high summer. It requires a sheltered spot with full sun or partial shade, in fertile moist soil. Plants may be propagated by division or root cuttings in autumn, or by basal cuttings in spring.

Plants make excellent cut flowers. In hot, dry areas they are sensitive to powdery mildew, and affected stems should be removed immediately.^[6]

Cultivars

Many cultivars have been developed for garden use. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

• ’Alba Grandiflora’^[7] (white)
• ’Becky Towe’^[8] (pink, variegated leaves)
• ’Danielle’^[9] (white)
• ’David’^[10] (white)
• ’Eva Cullum’^[11] (deep pink)
• ’Eva Foerster’^[12] (pink/white)
• ’Flamingo’^[13] (bright pink)
• ’Franz Schubert’^[14] (pale pink/purple)
• ’Grenadine Dream’^[15] (red/purple)
• ’Grey Lady’^[16] (lavender-grey)
• ’Luc’s Lilac’^[17]
• ’Le Mahdi’^[18] (violet blue)
• ’Miss Elie’^[19] (pink)
• ’Miss Mary’^[20] (deep pink)
• ’Miss Pepper’^[21] (pale pink/deep pink)
• ’Monica Lynden-Bell’^[22] (pale pink)
• ’Mother of Pearl’^[23] (pearl white)
• ’Norah Leigh’^[24] (pale/dark pink, variegated)
• Peacock Cherry Red’^[25]
• Peacock Lilac^[26]
• Peacock Neon Purple^[27]
• Peacock White^[28]
• ’Prince of Orange’^[29] (orange-red)
• ’Prospero’^[30] (lilac/white)
• Purple Eye Flame^[31] (purple/white)
• ’Rosa Pastell’^[32] (pale pink)
• ’Starfire’^[33] (crimson)
• ’Uspekh’^[34] (violet/white)
• ’Utopia’^[35] (pale pink)
• ’Velvet Flame’^[36] (purple/white)
• ’Visions’^[37] (pale/medium pink)
• ’White Admiral’^[38] (white)

Uses

The plant has been used medicinally, with the leaf extract serving as a laxative and to treat boils.^[39]

Bibliography

• Web site: How to propagate phlox . . . 4 February 2021 . 24 September 2019. .

Notes and References

1. http://www.finegardening.com/garden-phlox-phlox-paniculata Fine Gardening Plant Guide, Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata
2. Web site: Phlox pannocchiuto, Phlox paniculata L.. Altervista Flora Italiana .
3. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
4. Book: Harrison, Lorraine. RHS Latin for gardeners. 2012. Mitchell Beazley. United Kingdom. 9781845337315. 224.
5. Book: Yatskievych, George . 2013 . Flora of Missouri, Volume 3 . Missouri Botanical Garden Press . 6297.
6. Web site: Garden Phlox Plants: Tips For Growing And Care . Gardening Know How . 11 October 2019.
7. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Alba Grandiflora' . 25 April 2018.
8. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Becky Towe' . 25 April 2018.
9. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Danielle' . 25 April 2018.
10. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'David' . 25 April 2018.
11. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum' . 25 April 2018.
12. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Eva Foerster' . 25 April 2018.
13. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Flamingo' . 25 April 2018.
14. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Franz Schubert' . 25 April 2018.
15. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Grenadine Dream' . 25 April 2018.
16. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Grey Lady' . 25 April 2018.
17. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox × arendsii 'Luc's Lilac' . 25 April 2018.
18. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Le Mahdi' . 25 April 2018.
19. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Miss Elie' . 25 April 2018.
20. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Miss Mary' . 25 April 2018.
21. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Miss Pepper' . 25 April 2018.
22. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Monica Lynden-Bell' . 25 April 2018.
23. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Mother of Pearl' . 25 April 2018.
24. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Norah Leigh' . 25 April 2018.
25. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata Peacock Cherry Red . 25 April 2018.
26. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata Peacock Lilac . 25 April 2018.
27. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata Peacock Neon Purple. 25 April 2018.
28. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata Peacock White. 25 April 2018.
29. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Prince of Orange' . 25 April 2018.
30. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Prospero' . 25 April 2018.
31. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata Purple Eye Flame . 25 April 2018.
32. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Rosa Pastell' . 25 April 2018.
33. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Starfire' . 25 April 2018.
34. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Uspekh' . 25 April 2018.
35. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox × arendsii 'Utopia' . 25 April 2018.
36. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Velvet Flame' . 25 April 2018.
37. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'Visions' . 25 April 2018.
38. Web site: RHS Plantfinder - Phlox paniculata 'White Admiral' . 25 April 2018.
39. Book: Niering . William A. . William Niering. Olmstead . Nancy C. . The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region . 1985 . 1979. Knopf . 0-394-50432-1 . 697.