What Grows There :: Hugh Conlon, Horticulturalist, Garden Advisor, and Photographer

Tulip Poplar

Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2024

Tulip-like flowers mostly hidden within foliage

Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), aka yellow poplar and tulip tree, is a large stately deciduous tree of eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This fast growing native typically grows 60-90 feet tall and it is not unusual to see tulip trees over 100 feet. It is also an important timber tree.

A member of the magnolia family, flowers attract large numbers of bees. Ornate 2-inch-wide goblet-shaped flowers are yellow with an orange band at the base of each petal. Most flowers go unnoticed, hidden among the 8- inch-wide leaves that emerge a week or two prior to bloom. Dry, scaly, cone-shaped brown fruits follow, each bearing numerous winged seeds. In some years (not all), bright green tulip shaped foliage turns golden yellow in fall.

Double row allée at Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC

Young tulip poplars grow with a pyramidal form and mature with a broad rounded canopy. Mature trees may reach 4-6 feet in trunk diameter, rising column-like and devoid of lower branches. Tulip poplars grow rapidly and become too big for an average residential property. In general, branches are not weak wooded in the early years, but weighty branches on older trees tend to snap off branches in wind and ice storms. Surface roots grow in lawns and tend to uplift sidewalks in urban areas.

Overall tree size becomes too menacing to many homeowners. Young tulip poplars grow with a pyramidal form and mature with a broad rounded canopy. Trunks of mature trees may reach 4-6 feet in diameter, usually rising column-like and devoid of lower branches. Tulip poplars grow rapidly and become too big for an average residential property. Branches are not weak wooded in the early years, but weighty branches on older trees tend to snap off branches in wind and ice storms. Its shallow root system competes in turf areas and likely will uplift sidewalks in urban areas.

Although not prone to serious disease and insect problems, leaves may be plagued by sap feeding aphids which exude sticky sap over decks, patios and cars beneath. Over a dry summer tulip tree may shed up to one-third of their leaves, perhaps abit messy for some homeowners. Shallow root systems compete with most kinds of plants planted within its drip line. During hot, dry weather the leaves tend to turn yellow and drop off.

Not prone to serious disease and insect problems, leaves may be plagued by sap feeding aphids which exude sticky sap over decks, patios and cars beneath. Over a dry summer tulip tree may shed up to one-third of their leaves, perhaps abit messy for some homeowners. Tuliptree provides food and shelter for insect pollinators. including hummingbirds and small critters.

Leading cultivars:

‘Arnold’ – columnar 50 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide

Majestic™ (‘Aureomarginatum’) – 75 feet tall tree with green leaves variegated edged with yellow margins

‘Little Volunteer’ – compact 30-35 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide

Emerald City™ (‘JFS-Oz’) upright oval shape to 55 feet high and 25 feet wide

Wonderful Carolina Silverbells

Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2024

Carolina silverbell (*Halesia tetraptera*)

To start, the botanical literature is a little confusing regarding the two silverbell species. Mountain silverbell (Halesia tetraptera; formerly H. carolina) and two-winged silverbell (H. diptera) are native to the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. (Zones 6-9).

Silverbells are either small- to medium-sized deciduous trees or large, multi-stemmed shrubs. It blooms in the spring (late-March to late-April) with white bell-shaped flowers that hang in clusters on year-old branches. Silverbells are in the Styrax plant family (Styracaceae) along with the snowbells (Styrax spp.).

Silverbell spring flowering is stunningly beautiful when set on or nearby a patio or planted at the edge of a woodlands. They’re naturally understory trees with a medium growth rate. Mountain silverbell may reach heights of 30 – 40 feet, whereas two-winged silverbell is smaller with a mature height between 20 – 30 feet. Both have a rounded tree canopy.

Flowers on two-winged silverbell average ¾-inch long. Mountain silverbell (H. tetraptera var. monticola) has larger white flowers than Carolina silverbell. It bears 4-winged green pods mature to brown. 2 inches long in fall. At the nursery, producers train them into a multi-stemmed small tree or a single trunk tree.

Silverbells thrive in rich, well-drained soil containing abundant organic matter. In their natural habitat silverbells grow moist acidic (pH 5.0 to 6.0), and the woodland floor is organically littered (mulched). Guard against the late summer foliage becoming chlorotic (yellow), a sign that the soil pH is not low (acidic) enough. A two-year old established tree is moderately drought tolerant.

Fertilize once in the spring with a slow-release acidic organic fertilizer. Silverbells tend to transplant well, preferring containerized rather than balled-and-burlapped (B&B) trees. Do not (never) attempt to dig a silverbell tree out from the wild.

Fall foliage often turns an attractive yellow before abscising and the bark adds winter interest with its contrasting striations. Silverbells generally have no pests of major concern. The species is susceptible to Phytophthora root rot that can be problematic in organically deficient and poorly drained soils.

Cultivars To Look For:

‘Arnold Pink’ forms large 3/4 in. rose pink pendulous flowers hang from the branches in spring.

‘Magniflora’ produces larger flowers (to 1 1/2″ wide) and reportedly flowers.

H. tetraptera var. rosea bears pink-blushed flowers.

‘Jersey Belle’ (H. tetraptera) bears extra-large white bell-shaped flowers.

‘Wedding Bells’ is a 20-foot smaller tree that is highly floriferous.

Easter Cactus

Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2024

A native of southeastern Brazil, Easter cactus (Schlumbergeri gaertneri), formerly Hatiora gaertneri, is a tropical succulent cactus. It is often confused with Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas Cacti (S. x buckeyi) both of which have very difference flattened stems with rounded or spiney-edged scalloped foliage. In the wild, this tropical grows almost shrub-like on trees or rocks.

Easter cactus may be identified for its single, squat stem. From this, elongated leaf segments grow. Unlike other holiday cacti, the Easter form has no scallops or teeth on a healthy leaf. Foliage color darkens as they age, beginning life as pale green and grow wider and flatter with age, with fully grown segments measuring 1.5 – 3 inches and up to 1 inch wide. When fully grown, segments will arch downward under their own weight.

Easter Cactus is an epiphytic house plant that asks for light shade and well-drained soil. The plant tolerates dry soils and overly wet potting media will cause root rot. Indoors, Easter cacti prefer a bright East-facing window, one not in direct sunlight. Plants prefer high humidity; mist every 2-3 days and set the pot in a tray of moist pebbles.

Flower buds start to set up in February-March as photoperiodic daylengths get longer. Flower buds form on the end of branches and open between late March and May. Bright starburst shaped flowers are available in scarlet red, light lavender and pink hues, depending on variety. These large blooms typically measure 3-inches across, with yellow stamen in center. Flowers that have been pollinated may produce oblong red fruit bearing seeds.

After flowering, Easter cactus enters a one-month resting period when water amounts are reduced. You may move the plant outdoors to a shady spot under a tree over most of spring and through the summer months. Treat the plant as you do most succulents in your house plant collection; water every 5-7 days and fertilize bi-monthly with a water-soluble product such as Miracle-Gro®, Jacks®, or Schultz® House Plant Food. In early January initiate flowering in early spring, set the plant, move the plant to cool room: 50-65°F during the day and night. Each night, set the plant in 14 hours of darkness daily by covering the plant with a box or moving it to a closet.

From late October through February, do not fertilize during its winter resting period. Never re-pot during bloom or immediately following resting period. Re-pot by removing only the loose soil around the roots. Transfer to a slightly larger pot and add potting mix. The best soil blend for Easter cacti contains about 50% peat/perlite potting, 25% garden soil, and 25% bark chips or gritty sand.

Cranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)

Posted by Hugh on February 19th, 2024

Cranesbills (Geranium spp.) comprise a large genus of super hardy herbaceous perennials. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). These are not your annual geraniums which is the genus Pelargonium. They grow happily in partial sun to full shade and in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Cranesbills tolerate full sun in cool northerly areas. Plants may produce fewer flowers in deep shade.

Plants grow from basal rosettes of palmately lobed leaves. Cranesbills benefit from annual mulching and tolerate moderate drought periods due to thick rhizomes. Over 250 varieties species worldwide, popular varieties grow 12-18 inches high and others to 24 -30 inches in height Utilize them as groundcovers and low garden borders. Clip (deadhead) plants back in mid-season for a clean appearance and to stimulate additional flowering.

Most cranesbills easily spread in the garden via rhizomes. Some varieties may self-seed and some cultivars may not come true from seed. Clumps may be divided every 3-5 years.

Personal Favorites: ‘Rozanne’ geranium (G. ’Gerwat’), Bloody cranesbill (G. sanguineum), G. maculatum ‘Espresso’, G. maculatum ‘Espresso’, G. x cantabrigiense ‘Biokova’, G. clarkei x pratense ‘Brookside’, and G. macrorrhizum ‘Ingersen’s Variety’).

‘Rozanne’ (G. ‘Gerwat’ is a hybrid clump-forming geranium that typically grows in a mound to 20 inches tall x 24 inches wide. It blooms almost non-stop flowering throughout the growing season. Large, 5-petaled, violet-blue flowers (to 2.5 inches in diameter) with purple-violet veins and small white centers bloom profusely from late spring to early summer, generally into the fall in zones 7 and parts south. Its deeply cut holds up well to summer heat and humidity. Perennial Plant of the Year in 2008 and highly pest and disease resistant.

Bigroot Geranium at Cheekwood Gardens in Nashville, TN

Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a rhizomatous semi-evergreen perennial that typically grows to 12 inches tall but spreads to 24 inches wide to form a thick, weed-resistant ground cover. Deeply lobed and rounded, grayish-green leaves (4-8″ long) have 5-7 lobes, with each lobe having 3 to 5 notches at the tip. Leaves are strongly aromatic when crushed. Leaves acquire attractive red tones in autumn. Long-lasting purple-pink flowers (to 1″ wide) with inflated dark red calyces bloom in umbel-like clusters above the foliage in late spring to early summer, often with some sporadic rebloom occurring throughout summer.\

Bloody cranesbill (G. sanguineum) is an herbaceous, clump-forming perennial that typically grows in a mound to 9-12 inches tall with white-hairy trailing stems eventually to 24-inches wide over time. The dark green summer foliage usually takes on a reddish look in the cool autumn season. ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ has highly aromatic, bright green leaves that turn red and orange in fall. Its purplish red (mauve) buds open into soft pink, 5-petaled flowers with darker sepals and elongated stamens.

‘Brookside’ Geranium at Chicago Botanical Gardens

G. clarkei x pratense ‘Brookside’ is an award-winning cranesbill in English gardens covered with violet blue flowers with a white eye in June and July. Brookside geranium grows to a height of 24 inches; cut back after first bloom to promote a second flush of late season flowers.

Seven Winter Blooming Shrubs

Posted by Hugh on February 12th, 2024

If you live where winter temperatures are generally moderate in the low teens, a number of shrubs bloom in winter. In the Delmarva and mid-South regions (USDA hardiness zones 6-7), these seven plants bloom reliably for 2-3 weeks before spring officially arrives.

Fragrant honeysuckle (*Lonicera fragrantissima*)

1. Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), aka fragrant honeysuckle, are covered with small fragrant white flowers in midwinter on this vigorous 10-12-feet-high shrub. Note: winter honeysuckle is listed as invasive in some southern states because they are prolific seed producers. In the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee (Zones 6b-7a), flowers rarely produce viable seeds.

2. Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) are covered with highly fragrant yellow/slight red blotched flowers in late January into February. This deciduous shrub grows 12 feet high by 10 feet wide and is moderately drought resistant.

3. Sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Humilis’) is a low-growing evergreen ground cover. During warm spells in February or March, small fragrant white flowers emerge from within the glossy boxwood-like evergreen foliage. It spreads slowly by underground runners where it prospers around woodland trees and dry sites.

4. Chinese paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) is a deciduous suckering shrub that typically grows to 4-6 feet tall and wide. Clusters of tiny, apetalous, tubular, yellow flowers open in February. Blooms are also delightfully fragrant. Dark blue-green, lanceolate-oblong, 3-6-inches long deciduous leaves are an added plus in the spring-summer landscape. Irrigate every 7-10 days during prolonged dry spells.

5. Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) produce sweet scented, golden yellow flowers February – March. This vine is trained to a trellis or vertical wall. It is often seen growing wild as a ground cover or pruned into 3-6 feet cascading mound. Many people wrongly call them forsythias which bloom in April.

6. Chinese Witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) are hybrids of two Asian witchhazels (H. japonica x H. mollis). Shrubs grow 6-12 feet tall and wide and sucker freely at the base. Some of the better cultivars include ‘Diane’, ‘Gingerbread’, ‘Jelena’, ‘Orange Beauty’, ‘Primavera’, and ‘Westerstede’.

7a. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas), native to central and southern Europe and western Asia, is a multi-stemmed, low-branched dogwood tree or shrub. Tiny, golden yellow flowers cover the branches during most of March despite some cold wintery nights. ‘Golden Glory’ and ‘Spring Glow’ are popular cultivars.

7b. Japanese cornel (C. officinalis) is filled with golden yellow flowers in very early March along with an attractive exfoliating winter bark. Both species grow 20-25 feet tall and slightly less in width. Leading varieties: ‘Kintoki’ (smaller 15 x15 feet specimen and heavy bloomer) and ‘Sunsphere’ (heavy blooming).

Rarely will you find these flowering shrubs for sale at local garden centers. It is best to buy these shrubs in late winter a number of fine on-line nurseries that do list them for spring planting. Plan on a 1-2 year waiting period before shrubs bloom for the first time.

These shrubs are also valued by early pollinating bees and butterflies. Birds attracted to red fruits in September. All shrubs are also moderately deer resistant.

Foamflowers For Your Shade Garden

Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2024

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is a low-growing, clump-forming woodland perennial groundcover. It grows naturally in moist forests, coves, and well-drained bottomlands where it spreads by slender runners (stolons) to form dense, 1-2 feet wide clumps of foliage or colonies. Small spikes of creamy white spring flowers and its attractive bright green foliage are solid pluses in a shady garden. (USDA hardiness zones 3-8).

Semi-glossy, heart-shaped, 3-5 lobed leaves (3-4 inches across) sprout directly from the stolons. Leaves may have reddish variegation along the veins. Foliage stays evergreen in mild winters, often taking on a reddish bronze tint in autumn and winter. Tiny, white flowers with very long “foamy -like” stamens appear in airy racemes in spring for 4-6 weeks; erect, wiry, mostly leafless floral stems stand tall above the foliage clump to a height of 10-12 inches. Flower buds start out pinkish before turning creamy white.

Foamflower is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. It thrives in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. Poorly drained or dry soils can be fatal for this shade groundcover. Fertilizing is rarely necessary. Mow high over the spent flower spikes for a neat appearance to the foliage mound. It is semi-evergreen in zone 6 and points further south where tiarellas are evergreen in winter.

A southern variety (var. wherryi), sometimes listed as a separate species, does not send out runners and the deeply lobed leaves resemble oak foliage.

Landscape Attributes: An excellent ground cover for heavy shaded sites; airy white flowers attract early pollinating small bees and flies. The heart-shaped foliage is generally passed up by deer and rabbits. Plants offer minimal wildlife value providing food or cover.

Foamflower is a great for woodland gardens and planted as a groundcover nearby the shade of acidic-loving shrubs and trees such as azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia), woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).

Christmas Fern

Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2024

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is an evergreen native fern that grows tough as nails. This native fern, also called the Christmas dagger fern, is indigenous to much of eastern North America; it grows in every U.S. state east of the Rocky Mountains (USDA hardiness zones 3 – 9). This durable fern has long been associated with Christmas, its evergreen fronds (foliage) once in popular use in making holiday wreaths. Fronds (foliage) provides winter landscape interest.

Christmas ferns are long-lived plants. They grow to about 18 – 24 inches tall and wide with all fronds emerging from a central crown. As the plant ages, it produces additional fronds, usually numbering 20 or so per plant. Transplant them almost any time that the ground isn’t frozen. They prefer light to full shade, although in most northern states can handle full sun. Plants grow larger in humus-rich soil and are not finicky if planted in heavy clay soil.

The base of the frond and the central crown is covered with brown scales. The fronds are pinnately compound, meaning there is a central axis with the individual leaflets (called “pinnae” in fern lingo). Pinnae are about 2 inches long but are proportionally smaller as you move down the midrib. Two rows of spore dots (sori) run down their length.

Christmas fern grows in a fountain-like clump with leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen fronds. In early spring, new fronds uncurl, and the old fronds wither away. Best grown in organically rich, dry to medium moist, well-drained soils in part to full shade. This rhizomatous fern does not spread or naturalize. Individual clumps increase in size over time.

Young silvery and scaled fiddleheads, referred to as “croziers”, appear in the spring. Sori, containing fruiting bodies of ferns, appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends of the fronds.

Christmas ferns have no serious insect or disease problems. They are rabbit and deer resistant. Crown rot can be problematic in poorly drained soils, particularly during the winter.

Why Called “Christmas Fern”? If you pull off a single leaflet (pinna) and turn it horizontally, it looks like Santa standing up on the back of his sled; hold it vertically, it resembles a Christmas stocking or a mitten.

Why Newly Planted Trees Die

Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2024

Proper Planting Depth (tree flare just above soil line)

The loss or decline of a newly planted tree or shrub is usually a result of multiple factors. One of the worst mistakes is planting trees or shrubs too deeply – whether they are planted by a home gardener or a landscape professional. I’ve witnessed both. Surface roots are deprived of oxygen the deeper trees are set into the ground. Less oxygen leads to slower growth and eventual root death. Burying the trunk deeply makes the bark more susceptible to attack from diseases or insects which can bring about the demise of a plant.

Nursery trees and shrubs, whether balled and burlapped (b&b) or container grown, should be set (planted) at the same depth they were growing at the nursery or in the container. The tree may also be covered over with too much mulch.

Many container-grown trees and shrubs are frequently grown in a soilless organic media such as bark, composed wood fiber, and /or peat moss. Over time the organic media will subside or reduce in volume. At the garden center or nursery, plants may be buried by soil or mulch piled up around the container to reduce irrigation and keep roots cool.

Before planting, look for the tree’s root flare which should be at or above the ground surface. It should appear clean and healthy with no cuts or injury. Avoid planting too deeply. Young trees may have little or no root flare and more evident on larger woody specimens.

B&B Tree planting steps:

1. Remove all strapping, twine or ropes from around the trunk and roots of the tree. Over time, the straps may girdled the trunk and result in tree death.

2. Next, remove the burlap, particularly synthetic burlap, from the top of the root ball and find the root flare of the tree to determined proper planting depth. This may be several inches below the soil surface.

3. Dig a shallow hole deep enough and 2-3 times the width of the root ball. Set the tree so the root flare is at or slightly above the soil surface. Do not dig deep holes. Refill the hole to the proper height will result in settling of the tree to a deeper improper depth over time.

4. Place the tree in the hole and at minimum remove all-natural cloth (jute) burlap. The burlap will wick moisture out of the soil if it is visible above the soil. Also, remove as much of the wire cage as is practical. Remove the wire basket (cage) or at least the top third. Remove all synthetic burlap whenever possible.

5. Fill the hole surrounding the root ball and pack the soil firmly around the ball to stabilize the tree. Gradually, refill the hole making sure no air pockets remain in the backfill. Do not add soil amendments (compost, manure, bagged “soils”, etc.) to the planting hole. Only soil that was removed from the hole should go back in.

6. Mulch to a depth of 3-4 inches with a coarse mulch a such as wood chips, pine bark or pine needles.

7. Water in the tree with a minimum of 5 gallons of water as weather every 2-weeks if rainfall is less than 1-inch weekly. Irrigation removes most soil air pockets and firms the soil around the roots.

8. Staking is unnecessary unless the planting site is excessively windy. The stakes and straps should be removed after 2-3 years.

New USDA Hardiness Zone Map

Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2024

The USDA Plant Zone Hardiness Zone Map is an important garden reference to anyone who gardens in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating this valuable tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 2012. USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The new map—jointly developed by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University’s (OSU) PRISM Climate Group—is more accurate and contains greater detail than prior versions.

It is available online at https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/. In addition to the map updates, the PHZM website was expanded in 2023 to include a “Tips for Growers” section, which provides information about USDA ARS research programs of interest to gardeners and others who grow and breed plants.

The 2023 map is based on 30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures at specific locations, is divided into 10 °F zones and further divided into 5 °F half-zones. Like the previous map issued in 2023, the new web version offers a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based interactive format and is more user-friendly, including several new, significant features and advances.

The 2023 PHZM is now available as a premier source of information that gardeners, growers and researchers alike can use. A paper version of the 2023 map will not be available for purchase; instead, anyone may download and print copies as needed.

Plant hardiness zone designations represent what’s known as the “average annual extreme minimum temperature” at a given location during the past 30 years. They do not reflect the coldest it has ever been or ever will be at a specific location. It simply records the average lowest winter temperature for the location over a specified time. Low temperature during the winter is a crucial factor in the survival of plants at specific locations.

The map has 13 zones across the U.S. and its territories. Each zone is broken into half zones, designated as “A” and “B.” For example, zone 7 is divided into 7a and 7b half zones. Compared to the 2012 map, the 2023 version reveals that about half of the country shifted to the next warmer half zone, and the other half of the country remained in the same half zone. That shift to the next warmer half zone means those areas warmed somewhere in the range of 0-5 °F. Also, some locations experienced warming in the range of 0-5 °F without moving to another half zone.

‘Jeana’ Phlox 2024 PPOY

Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2024

The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has selected ‘Jeana’ the 2024 Perennial Plant of the Year (PPOY). This exceptional garden phlox is recognized for its impressive flower show, tall sturdy plant habit, and pollinators’ delight. (USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8).

Dense, domed lavender-pink flowers stand atop long sturdy stems from midsummer to early fall. Individually, the fragrant bloom trusses are significantly smaller than typical garden phlox — only about half an inch wide — but the show at peak is eye-popping, nonetheless. This is a case where bigger is not better, from a pollinator’s perspective anyhow.

‘Jeana’ phlox is discovered by Jeana Prewitt along the Harpeth River in Nashville, TN. Jeana phlox grows vigorously to 4-5 feet in height and 2-3 feet in spread. Stems are sturdy and well-branched to support the sweetly scented 6-inch soft lavender-pink flowers on top. Each flower comprises 15 – 25 one-half inch wide florets, each one dotted with a darker pink center or eye.

In garden phlox 3-year trial (2015 -2017) at Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware, the nectar-rich flowers of ‘Jeana’ attracted more butterflies — Eastern Tiger Swallowtails were especially plentiful — than any other garden phlox in their study. Hummingbirds and other pollinators were fans as well.

Topped with flowers, ‘Jeana’ can reach 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, although size will vary geographically. Its bright green foliage is highly powdery mildew resistant; ‘Jeana’ stays attractive, in bloom or not in the summer garden.

Tall garden phlox provide structure and color in summer gardens and are good bridging plants between early and later flowering perennials. ‘Jeana’ is at home in traditional borders and meadows and is a natural in pollinator gardens.

Divide clumps every 3-5 years in spring. Deadheading promotes continued blooming and prevents self-seeding. Powdery mildew and spider mites may be foliar problems in hot or dry conditions. Thinning out stems improves air circulation and guards against mildew. Deer and rabbits can be pests.

‘Jeana’ phlox is a garden companion with other tall perennials including bluestars (Amsonia spp.), Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum ×superbum), coneflowers (Echinacea spp.), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), and switch grasses (Panicum virgatum).

Note: A brightly colored tee shirt of Phlox ‘Jeana’ is available for sale on the Perennial Plant Association website.