Phlox paniculata | Mother Of Pearl

Phlox paniculata Mother of Pearl is a perennial phlox that has over summer and into autumn panicles of fragrant white flowers dusted with a blush of pink.  The flower buds start off a rosy pink colour opening to white and then flush with pink. This very pretty phlox has deservingly been the recipient of the RHS Garden of Merit Award.

Plants are happy in all soil types including clay but they do require good drainage so adding some sharp gravel in with your planting will help with this.  Plants also like even moisture levels so mulching will assist with this particularly over the summer months.  A full sun or partially shaded position is fine as often the white flowered plants like some respite from the hot burning afternoon sun.  As plants can get powdery mildew good air circulation is appreciated and avoid overhead watering.

Phlox paniculata is a garden classic that is also loved by butterflies and bees for its nectar.  Mother of Pearl is winter dormant and so it dies back over the colder months and will reappear in spring.  It has an upright growth habit and is a must have for the border as well as a cottage garden where it adds a touch of both elegance and fragrance and certainly adds a "pretty factor" to the garden with its brilliant floral display and looks stunning planted in drifts - also a beautiful cut flower. 

The long, stiff stems of garden phlox are easy to arrange in a vase, where they complement and help hold up other flowers such as dahlias and lilies. Be sure to cut some stems while some of the flowers are still in bud as this will extend their vase life. Deadheading or picking flowers for the vase will help to promote new flowers.

Plants can be split once clumps have become established and this can be done in autumn.

Height | Up to 75cm x Clumping over time

Perennial | Hardy | Winter dormant

Plant size PB2 | Equivalent 1.2 litres