Phlox maculata
early phlox
polemoniaceaeWhite, pink, or rose clusters of flowers;
narrow, shiny green leaves
2–3 ft. high; 3 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms June–July
Zones 4–8
pruning Deadheading can greatly
prolong the bloom of early phlox, in
some cases for up to 2 months longer.
Deadhead the main flowering truss to
above lateral buds. Plants are
self-sterile and will not self-sow, so
deadheading to prevent mongrel
seedlings is not a concern. If the stems
of the plants brown or are affected
with leaf spot, they should be cut to
the ground for regrowth and, if
vigorous, rebloom may occur,
although this is not common. Keep
moist and fertilize after cutting back
for best performance.
Pruning extends early phlox’s
season to later in the summer and
provides smaller flowers, which are
better for small cut-flower arrange-
ments. Plants can be pinched, and they
respond well to cutting back by half
and shaping at the end of May or in
early June before flowering to reduce
the height and delay the bloom. Plants
in tight bud also can be pruned by
removing 6 in. or more to obtain
shorter plants and later bloom.
Flowers are usually delayed by about 2
weeks but can be delayed by up to 4weeks with either form of cutting back.
If plants are stressed or not growing
strongly, pruning may further reduce
the flowering and quality of bloom.
See cultivars listed below for specifics.
other maintenance This species
is a good selection of phlox because of
its resistance to powdery mildew.
Plants are heavy feeders and need
moist, fertile, organic-rich soil for best
performance. Division every couple of
years will maintain vigor.
related plantS Phlox maculata
‘Alpha’ cut back by half and shaped in
early June produces outstanding
plants that flower nicely at 1 1/2 ft.,
rather than 2 1/2 ft., and begin flowering
2 weeks later than unpruned plants, in
mid-July rather than late June. ‘Miss
Lingard’ plants cut back by half at the
end of May flowered 3–4 weeks later
than unpruned plants and at 2 ft.
rather than 3 ft. The floral display of
the pruned plants was not as effective
as that of unpruned plants, but that
was most likely because the plants
were stressed and in need of division
to improve their vigor. ‘Omega’ is a
white form with a pink eye; if dead-
headed, it usually reblooms all white
later in the summer. ‘Rosalind’ did not
respond to pruning 4 in., rather than 6
in., off the tips of the plants when in
tight bud in mid-June. Pruning off less
of the stem must not have removed
already formed lateral flower buds,
which broke at the normal flowering
time to create a rather bizarre effect.Phlox maculata ‘Alpha’