Phlox
Phlox drummondii
Annual phlox is a low, bushy winter annual with dense clusters of flowers in pink, red, purple, white and bicolours. It covers pots and borders with colour from winter into spring.
Photo: Varun Pabrai · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water at the base when the top of the soil is dry.
Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
2–30 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed every three weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Shear off faded flowers for a second flush.
Phlox is not toxic to people or pets.
Top Cultivation Tips
Sow in October in the plains.
Space for airflow to prevent mildew.
Great for edging and window boxes.
Mixed colours give a cottage-garden look.
Common problems
Powdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →
