Phlox paniculata

Phlox paniculata
Inflorescence of a pink variety
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Polemoniaceae
Genus:	Phlox
Species:	P. paniculata
Binomial name
Phlox paniculata L. (1753)

Fruit and seeds

Phlox paniculata (fall phlox,^[1] garden phlox, perennial phlox or summer phlox) is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to the eastern and central United States and eastern Canada. It is extensively cultivated in many lands as an ornamental plant^[2] and has become established in the wild in scattered locales in other regions.^[3][4]

Description

Phlox paniculata is an erect herbaceous perennial growing to 120 cm (47 in) tall by 100 cm (39 in) wide, with opposite, simple leaves on slender green stems. The flowers, 1.5–2.5 cm (1–1 in) in diameter, often fragrant, are white, pink, red, or purple, and borne in summer through fall (autumn).^[5] The flowers are grouped in panicles, hence the specific epithet paniculata.^[6]

Cultivars

Many cultivars have been developed for garden use. The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

'Blue Ice'[7] 'Brigadier'[8] 'Bright Eyes'[9] 'Eventide'[10] 'Le Mahdi'[11] 'Mother of Pearl'[12]

'Mount Fuji'[13] 'Prince of Orange'[14] 'Prospero'[15] 'Starfire'[16] 'White Admiral'[17] 'Windsor'[18]

References

1. Phlox paniculata L. United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile
2. Fine Gardening Plant Guide, Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata
3. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
4. Altervista Flora Italiana, Phlox pannocchiuto, Phlox paniculata L.
5. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
6. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
7. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Blue Ice'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
8. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Brigadier'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
9. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Bright Eyes'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
10. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Eventide'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
11. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Le Mahdi'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
12. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Mother of Pearl'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
13. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Mount Fuji'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
14. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Prince of Orange'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
15. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Prospero'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
16. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Starfire'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
17. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'White Admiral'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
18. "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox paniculata 'Windsor'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.