Ellen Honeycutt
The Phlox genus is almost uniquely North American, over 60 species in total. Fourteen of them are found in Georgia, ranging in colors from white to pink to blue, blooming in the wild and in our gardens from spring to summer. The early blue species include woodland phlox (P. divaricata) and creeping phlox (P. stolonifera). They are joined by pink spring species like moss phlox (P. subulata) and trailing phlox (P. nivalis), both of which can have white forms.
Mid-spring and early summer species are hairy phlox (P. amoena, shown below), downy phlox (P. pilosa), Carolina phlox (P. carolina), smooth phlox (P. glaberrima) and several others. The last phlox to bloom is the tall summer phlox (P. paniculata) which has been bred by nurserymen into a variety of colors and mildew-resistant beauties. Next time you’re looking for something to add to your landscape, give one of these American beauties a try.