Phlox for the South (Part 1)

As we get closer and closer to actual spring, I can easily become overwhelmed with all the changes happening outside. The peepers are peeping and birds are just as excited as I am. All of this culminates into a rich swirl of "spring fever", and we all feel it whether we are conscious of it or not. If we aren't affected by nature and the seasons, something is wrong!

One plant that I often fail to fully appreciate because my attention is diverted elsewhere is our native Woodland Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata). If you live in the East and you haven't tried this easy perennial, you should! It's a tough carefree plant that offers cool blue flowers early- like right now (mid-Feb). Of course, different clones bloom at different times, and if you are further north it will bloom later.

I originally started with just 2 clones, one being from the woods behind my mom's house, and the other being a named selection called 'Blue Moon'. The local variant has proven to be far more vigorous and beautiful in my opinion. It blooms around 2 weeks earlier than my purchased cultivar and seems to seed around more prolifically.

What makes this species so useful in the garden, is that it acts as a sort of ground cover. But keep in mind that it can reach 1 foot tall in flower. You should also experience the sweet fragrance...get your nose down there!

The Latin species name "divaricata" means "spreading"- which is accurate! I love plants that take care of themselves and especially ones that reproduce and spread around the garden. Phlox divaricata definitely does both!

The color of this species ranges from pale sky blue to a more purple-blue hue. I love digging up little clumps and either spreading them around the garden or potting them up to give away to some of my plant-loving friends. I've also had success collecting seed and sprinkling them around the yard. Just wait until the flower heads dry up (sometime in late spring) then crush them and scatter into appropriate areas (soils that have been lightly scratched work best).

For best results in the deep south, I'd urge you to find cultivars that originated in a hot climate. I suspect the cultivar 'Chattahoochee' does quite well, though I've never tried it. Keep in mind that deer love this plant, so this might not be the best perennial for a deer-infested neighborhood.