Tall spires of phlox have been punctuating gardens since great-grandmother days.  Their only drawback has been their inclination to gain a fine silver haze of powdery mildew in the humidity of summer.

Then along came a couple of phlox with mildew resistance.  Mount Fuji (Phlox paniculata ‘Mount Fuji’) was the first to become popular in American gardens.  I ordered Mt. Fuji from Wayside Gardens years ago and planted it in a garden past.  I loved the tall white spires that cooled the summer landscape.  Its drawback wasn’t mildew.  It needed staking to hold up its snowy peaked flower heads.  I must say I would grow Mount Fuji again, even if she were a bit floppy.

It’s interesting that Mount Fuji is still beloved in Britain, more so than in the U.S.  The Royal Horticulture Society gave their Award of Garden Merit to Mount Fuji in 1993.

We have our own awarded tall garden phlox.  David (Phlox paniculata ‘David’) has arrived on the U.S. gardening scene.  He is the popular choice for white flowers with a nice fragrance in summertime.

David sends up very large white steeples on strong stems.  He is the 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year chosen by the Perennial Plant Association.  He is listed as mildew resistant and has been so in my hot and humid garden.

Now, if white isn’t your thing and you want strong color, there is a new phlox with giant flower heads, David’s Lavender (Phlox paniculata David's Lavender PP).  It has the same mildew resistance as David and the same giant flower heads.

Most growers advise deadheading  tall garden phlox (cutting off the spent flower heads) and I guess if you want to limit the plant size and create more flower stalks, this is a good practice.  If you do deadhead, though, you push back the bloom time.  I have found that if I leave phlox alone, new flower buds form right under the spent dried blossoms.

Some of you might prefer a tidier look and deadheading will give it to you.  I don’t mind trading fewer flower heads for less work.  There are no garden police.  Do what pleases you.

Phlox 'David's Lavender' enjoys conditions that all tall garden phlox thrive on.  Amend the soil so that it will hold moisture but drain freely.  Check the pH.  Phlox like a neutral to slightly alkaline mix.  David’s Lavender is USDA hardy in Zones 4-9.  Give it full sun.  It will appreciate some shade mid-day in the south.

---Posted by Coach Anne, July 30 2008---