Garden phlox blooms in summer and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8.

These perennials also attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

As an additional bonus, their sturdy stems make them a great choice for cut flowers.

tall garden phlox

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

This perennial grows best in sunny areas and moist, well-draining soil.

Garden Phlox Care

Garden phlox is a low-maintenance plant.

Consider tilling the soil and adding compost if necessary.

Volcano Ruby (image) is one of the tall phloxes. It blooms in August.

Volcano Ruby phloxDavid Beaulieu

The best times to plant garden phlox are the spring after the last frost or the early fall.

Light

Grow garden phlox infull sunin northern regions and in partial sun in southern regions.

Well-draining loamy and clay soils work if they include some organic matter.

Closeup of flowers of Pink Flame tall garden phlox.

Flame Pink stays relatively short for a tall garden phlox.Courtesy of Proven Winners -www.provenwinners.com.

Once established, keep the soil evenly moist, but do not overwater.

Keeping the foliage dry will minimize fungal problems.

you’re free to mitigate heat and humidity problems by addingmulchto keep the root zone cool.

Closeup of flower head of 'Natascha' tall garden phlox.

‘Natascha’ has bicolored flowers.Maria Mosolova/Photodisc/Getty Images

Fertilizer

This plant wants a soil with moderate fertility.Fertilizegarden phlox with compost each year in spring.

Propagating Garden Phlox

Cuttings

Garden phlox can be propagated by taking cuttings.

A potting mix is the best soil for a container since it drains well.

Phlox paniculata 'Little Boy' with its bicolored flowers.

‘Little Boy’ has light centers and darker edges.Graeme Scott/Flickr/Public Domain

Avoid garden soil which compacts in a container, causes poor drainage, and leads to root rot.

Garden phlox grown in pots may need staking or some other form of support for its height.

Types of Garden Phlox

Many cultivars of garden phlox have varying flower colors.

Tall garden phlox growing in mixed border with Rudbeckia fulgida.

Bjorn Forsberg/Photolibrary/Getty Images

Some have solid-colored flowers while others are bi-color with a different color in the center.

They have a slight vanilla scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

In proper conditions, garden phlox should bloom readily.

Nora Leigh phlox plants in bloom.

Nakano Masahiro/Getty Images

double-check your plant is getting enough sunlight to maximize blooms.

This perennial may also have issues withaphids,spider mites,thrips, leafhoppers, and phlox plant bugs.

you might manage infestations with horticultural oil and insecticidal soap.

Yes, garden phlox returns annually if it’s in good health in its hardiness zone.

Deadhead the spent flowers to encourage the plant to produce new flowers.