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'David's Lavender' Phlox

Phlox paniculata (FLOCKS pan-ick-you-LAY-tuh)

Family: Polemoniaceae Native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

"David's Lavender" is an herbaceous perennial cultivar with fragrant, showy. lavender-pink flowers that have a darker central eye. The large clusters bloom from mid to late summer and with deadheading may bloom into fall. For best results, it should be planted in full sun in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Phlox need watering during dry spells and some fertilization throughout the season. Although it is tolerant of clay soil, David's Lavender will benefit from the application of lime in acidic soils. In spite of taking a little work, they are worth the effort for the showy blooms over a long season. They can be used in the middle border of the perennial garden, in small masses, and with other colored phloxes or to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Somewhat mildew resistant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for spider mites, phlox bugs and stem nematodes. Diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot and root or crown rot. More information on Phlox paniculata .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Phlox carolina Phlox paniculata
Fills a similar niche Phlox Phlox maculata Phlox paniculata 'David'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Conical; Erect; Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Pyramidal
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-5 inch long oval deep green leaves
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Panicles of densely packed tubular lavender-pink flowers with darker eye. Individual 5-petaled flowers are small at 1/2 inch diameter but the pyramidal flower clusters are 6-10 inches wide. Blooms mid to late summer to fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a longitudinally dehiscent capsule with three or more valves that sometimes separate explosively.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Wildlife value
Phlox paniculata provides nectar to butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, sphinx moths, and hummingbirds. Deer, rabbits browse on the foliage.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Moths; Small Mammals
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Defines Paths
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Patio; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#upright form #large flowers #hummingbird friendly #showy flowers #pyramidal #well-drained soil #butterfly friendly #moth caterpillar host #clumping #lavender flowers #mounding #small mammals #summer flowers #acidic soils tolerant #pink flowers #alkaline soils tolerant #fragrant flowers #fire low flammability #black walnut toxicity tolerant #long bloom time #moist soil #herbaceous perennial #conical #mildew resistant #fall flowers #multistemmed #mulch #full sun tolerant #rich soils #cutting garden #partial shade tolerant #moth friendly #perennial
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Phlox Plant Bug and Other Lopidea Plant Bugs; Oriental Beetle; Fourlined Plant Bug
Disease problems
Black Root Rot on Ornamental Plants; Phytophthora Blight and Root Rot on Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials
Other problems
Cottontail Rabbit
Resistant to
Black Walnut
Particularly resistant to
Disease resistant
Propagation
Division; Root Cutting; Stem Cutting
Fire risk
low flammability

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.