Hope everyone that has 'Shockwave' will give comments on it next year- I have been eye ballin' that one myself and would love to hear what everyone here thinks of it. ;-) I have had the same findings as ninamarie with regards to 'Becky Towe'. I've had mine four or five years now and it hasn't been a very robust grower (although I admit the first spot I had it in wasn't the best). It even put out some all green side-shoots, which was a bit annoying. I put it in a full sun spot last year and it is doing better, tough I can't say I like the hot pink flowers much (personal dislike of the color, lol). Mine stands a bit shorter at around 2 1/2 feet tall by the way. Love the foliage variegation of my 'Nora Leigh', but think the flowers are pretty wishy-washy. I recently planted a pink turtlehead (Chelone) next to it, hoping to bring out a little more of the pink eye of the phlox. I actually compiled a list of all the variegated phlox I could find online awhile back (just for my own amusement, lol!). Besides the ones mentioned here there is also: 'Harlequin', 'Elisabeth', 'Goldmine', 'Silvermine', 'Creme de Menthe', and a couple short species phlox. I like the looks of 'Harlequin' a lot- dark purple flowers and white (cream?) variegation. CMK

I'm a lifelong non phlox grower, but recently have begun thinking about them. Could phlox get by without summer water in a coolish, moist-ish (alongside a drainage that goes dry in summer) area with soil of high organic content and that is partly shaded? I'm talking about the drainage through the shade garden, along which I've planted roses. It can be extremely wet in wet periods. How about shade with heavy soil, but no summer water; an area where I have plants like pulmonaria, a tall campanula, geranium, Salvia glutinosa. Ispahan, thanks for that link. The nurserywoman writes feelingly and entertainingly: it was fun to read. Melissa

Welcome to the never-ending frustration of finding native plants. Unless you can find a specialty nursery nearby, I'm afraid that you must resign yourself to mail-order nurseries. I did a web search for Phlox buckleyi, and found one;I'm sure that there are others, and maybe one will turn out to be close enough to get to. Good luck! ps-I know nothing about this nursery, so you should check it out on Garden Watchdog Here is a link that might be useful: nursery with Phlox buckleyi

I had some creeping thyme and it was wonderfully hardy for about five years, then just went pffft. I replaced it with golden oregano "aureum" and it's been a steady performer for two years. It's only ornamental but it works as a ground cover, smells good and the tall, leggy flowers it puts up can be either tolerated or cut back without changing the rest of the plant. And this stuff nearly glows a yellow-green color, which is nice when nothing else is blooming. BUT, I'm wanting a better bloomer for this creeping phlox place. Kat, thank you for your offer to share some Scutellaria at the upcoming swap. I'll gladly take you up on it.