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Garden Phlox

(Phlox paniculata )

Phlox means flame in Greek.

The word "paniculata" refers to the shape of the flower cluster.
The flowers are in a panicle. Actually, a phlox flower head isn't very panicle like...a lilac's flower head is more panicle shaped but what can you do...the name is paniculata and there you go!

 

This is a native plant.

Blooming in late June to September in Connecticut.

I read that it has naturalized in New England from a slightly more southern or interior range. Depending on where you look, New York State or Pennsylvania, west towards Illinois then south to Florida. Whatever,... it is here now.

 

The color you see in the photo is the typical shade of magenta for this phlox.

One of my books, written by an excellent plantsman, calls it an "unpopular magenta"!
I like it...some folks think it gaudy, or too hard to find other flowers that go with the color.

There is a lot of variation in the wild, however, and you might very well find a lighter pink or even a near white. It is these natural variations that plant breeders look for to develop into a special commercial variety.

 

 

The plant attracts many insects.

As the season progresses I will probably catch a few photos.

I would really like to show you the Hawk Moth. They really like phlox. One of the daytime flying moths they look like a little hummingbird.

 

 

If you grow phlox, remember to divide it every 3 or 4 years so it doesn't get ragged looking. If you have an improved variety do not use the seed to propagate new plants as that will possibly revert to the wild color. Use divisions.

 

 

Here is the Hawk Moth I mentioned. Its wings are just a blur.

Some folks call all of them hummingbird moths and that describes them real well. They hover by the flower while probing for nectar. They does not land on the flower!

This particular one is a Humming-bird Moth. A particular group of Hawk Moths has been named that. They have the unmothlike habit of flying in the daytime. The scales rub off their wings making them transparent.

This particular Humming-bird Moth is Hemaris thysbe in its summer form. There are three moths around here of the Hemaris genus....this being the most likely you will see here I think. They all depend on some plants from the honeysuckle family, including the viburnum, to feed their larva. Our garden has several viburnum bushes. That bush also feeds the birds with its red berries!.

This flower is on the monarda plant. Also called bee balm or Indian Tea the plant's leaves have a nice citrus smell. A member of the mint family it has a square stem.

 

 

 

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