Best Vendor for Tall Phlox ('David') and Something Stunning

14 years ago

I cannot locate "David" phlox this year at the local nurseries (Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc). And I want it BAD. I'd like to plant some this fall....along with one colorful tall phlox that performs well.

What providers would you recommend. I would like a good sized plant from the start....and not a twig that will take years to mature.

I'm excited to hear what colored TALL phlox you guys and gals will be recommending that will look good planted next to "David."

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

conniemcghee
14 years ago
Well, fwiw, I bought small quarts earlier this spring, and they grew to what I estimate will be about half their eventual size. I imagine next year they'll reach full size.

I have had good luck with Bluestone Perennials. The plants are small when you receive them, but they acclimate quickly and put on growth fast. I'll take a super-healthy small plant any day!
deeje
14 years ago
I just received an email from Bluestone this afternoon -- they have David available in their "larger" pots (still small as perennial pots go, but not teensy) for half-price.

And I agree; I'll take a small pot of a healthy Bluestone plant over a marginal gallon pot from a big-box store any day!

They have quite a variety of phlox at 50% off, actually. Makes me wish we didn't have such a deer problem...
Related Discussions
Mildew resistant phlox?
Q
Comments (6)
the issue with mildew.. is going into darkness ... with wet leaves ... on hot humid nights when i used to do phlox in suburbia.. i would get home and in the evening.. wet down the whole garden.. it was a stress reliever.. unbelievable mildew on monarda.. phlox.. roses .... once i stopped wetting things down.. i reduced the PM 50% ... the bane of such is also air movement at night.. so the next step was cutting away some of the jungle around them.. to get the best air movement.. at night that i could ... finally.. i found out that it is prevented with early application of baking soda and water.. in a spray tank ... no chemicals necessary ... [might want to verify that .. coffee buzz warning.. lol] it took me a long time to learn all that without the worldwideweb ... then i moved out to the country... former horse pasture.. much wind .. pure sand .. and full sun ... and have never had a PM issue ... frankly it is just too dry ... and i dont water them at all once established ... whether a given plant will resist or not.. is irrelevant .... if the plants are placed in a situation where it is impossible to resist ... sooo.. i would suggest you plant them in full sun... and once they get established.. insure they never have wet leaves in darkness ... and if its a lawn sprinkler issue.. figure out how to avoid such ... they are not a 'stuff them in a crowed corner' type plant ... and if you cant do that.. NOTHING.. repeat NOTHING .. will stop PM completely ... what all that means.. is that the plants 'CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS' will outweigh any claim of resistant.. IMHO ... 'culture' meaning how and where its planted ... all that said.. the fragrance is unique .. and one of my childhood memories.. i think grandma had some back in the polish ghetto of detroit in the 60's ... i will never be without them ... good luck ken BTW ... mine get 4 to 5 feet tall with total abject neglect.. and seed themselves somewhat... i started with the pink eyed one.. and the seed has given a pink.. and a white ... i never knew they seeded until i neglected them. lol .. so now i have 3 varieties ....
...See More
Phlox dying?
Q
Comments (24)
We always have a bit of what looks very much like that happening in the pictures above, each year. And almost always it's in one limited area of the garden; namely, along the back of the narrow beds along the deck. That's the sunniest area of our south facing garden. I thinned out and replanted the area last year, but the problem (though still limited in extent) is more obvious than last year. And it's only the garden phlox there that seem to be stressed, not other perennials. We water the garden once a week, unless there's lots of rain; every five days if it's really hot. I suspect the problem is to do with dryness. Against our wooden deck (or the wall above) I'd suspect the soil is particularly prone to drying out. There's also numbers of ants in the location, here, which may also contribute to the soil drying out. Though not as extensive as in the pictures above, I just cut out any such stem (leaves yellowing and dying from the bottom up). Leave a garden phlox you've purchased in a pot with inadequate watering and these symptoms are just what you get. I'm not saying, however, that there aren't other stressors also working on our phlox/ those pictured above as well.
...See More
Garden Phlox
Q
Comments (6)
We have several dozen different garden phlox, mostly named cultivars. Of our few named taller older ones, 'Shortwood' (pink) is excellent. It's the best all-round phlox in the Chicago Botanic Garden comparative study of Phlox paniculata cultivars (pre-1980/1990s garden phlox). "Shortwood' was actually a chance seedling of 'David', which itself is an excellent phlox. From my current experience, I'd particularly recommend 'DÃÂ¼sterlohe' (Nicky) (purple; at least to me), 'Bright Eyes' (light pink, red eye), 'Starfire' (red), 'Pina Colada' (white), 'Tequila Sunrise' (salmon orange) and 'Watermelon Punch' (pink orange). Also: 'Peppermint Twist' (pink and white pinwheel). Find it quite vigorous and also love the stem reversions (we see) back to it's parent 'Candy Floss'. I've read the latter's flower colour described as magenta or as a pink. I'd call it cherry pink. Also: 'Norah Leigh'. The flower may not be much, but the plant's so hardy; a fabulous variegated garden phlox which is around in fall (at least here) long after the other phlox have been cut down. I also like a number of the garden phlox with which I only have a couple of year experience. Currently, I'm thinking that 'Cosmopolitan' (hot pink) really stands out. 'Purple Kiss', 'Wendy House', the Flame series, etc. also look good. Picture (Aug. 15, 2013):
...See More
Your thoughts on David Phlox
Q
Comments (20)
Joanne, My phlox David are in full bloom now, not in June. Some of the Davids started blooming about two weeks ago. They are usually a tiny bit later to bloom than my Bright Eyes, Orange Perfection, Starfire, and Nicky. The greenery starts up in spring with everything else (spring here is late). Depending on how tall your hedge is, the greenery would probably be showing some by mid/late June. While my Phlox David have grown well, I would certainly not plant them 2 to 3 foot apart in my garden. Planting tags for my Davids DO say "24 inch S", but I don't expect any new plant to need all their suggested space until at least the 2nd year (in my heavy clay probably year 3, sometimes 4). I would plant them on 12 inch centers in the center area or several areas of your 15 feet, one grouping of 5 plants in the center, or two groups of 3 plants, with the groups equally spaced along the 15 ft. Then let them grow and spread for you, see how well they do, and how well you like them there, and then thin the groupings and add them to the bare spaces, if you like, or plant them elsewhere. If you want a fuller look the first year along the whole 15 feet, you could plant 12 plants, one every foot for a total of 15 plants (fairly expensive), or 7 or 8 plants every 18 inches. When you get down to 5 plants every 3 feet, IMO, it will not have the effect you want. Also keep in mind that a regimented row planting of first year single stalk plants is not particularly attractive looking. Regardless of spacing, I would use a series of very shallow "v" shapes, one plant up front, one back, one plant up etc., to soften the look. The straight edge and heaviness of the shrub line will contrast nicely with the fluffy white flower heads. I would not worry about the space between the porch and the hedge looking bare, I'm assuming you have 18 inches or somewhat more there. It will not be noticeable/unusual in winter from any sort of distance (possibly covered with mulch then and greenery in warm weather), just neat. Being a plantaholic I would probably plant the Davids along part of the porch (one or two clusters) and then some sort of spring/early summer bloomer in the other space(s). Perhaps something like white Siberian Iris would work. It would probably depend on how you like their foliage and its height versus your hedge height. There are some really beautiful varieties available, although I have never used a white one. In my cold zone the foliage looks good all season and they will take full sun to part sun (doing better in more than less).
...See More
iloveplants-michele
14 years ago
Bluestone Perrenials is the way to go
ontnative
14 years ago
I have 'David' and a pink "sport" of 'David' called 'Shortwood'. Another tall, mildew-resistant one is 'Robert Poore', sort of a purple-pink, deeper in colour than 'Shortwood'.

Here is a link that might be useful: phlox 'Shortwood'
WendyB 5A/MA
14 years ago
Re: the local nurseries (Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc)

they are not nurseries. Don't you have real plant nurseries or garden centers that sell only plants (and related plant/gardening stuff)? They should have David.

For online, I love songsparrow.com

Regarding something stunning to plant with David, I have a purple vernonia (NY Ironweed) out by my front roadside and it is about 6' tall. David is in the backyard and is about 5' tall. Why I have never put them together is beyond me!! They would look stunning together. I am going to do a little dividing and conquer as soon as it is time.
tammyinwv
14 years ago
I have a real pretty "Franz Shubert" I got at Lowes or a Home depot this summer. It has done fantastic.
Tammy
ontnative
14 years ago
'Starfire' phlox is often recommended as a companion to 'David'. It is a bright cherry red, slightly shorter than 'David', and NOT resistant to mildew. However, the colour is truly eye-catching. Other non-phlox campanions to 'David' are echinacea purpurea (one of the tall ones), liatris (again one of the taller ones), oriental lilies such as the bright red/white 'Stargazer', or buddleia davidii (butterfly bush), one of the red-purple or purple ones such as 'Guinevere' or 'Potter's Purple'. Two other perennials that are taller than 'David' but look good with it are Vernonia (Ironweed) and Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne'.
summermusicz4ia
14 years ago
Nurseries (not big box stores) everywhere carry David phlox as it is a common good grower. You should be able to buy it on sale now and not incur high shipping costs. This phlox has been excellent here...think you will like it.
As others have noted, Starfire & Franz Schubert are also good. Nikki is a deep magenta...great strong color...my favorite phlox.
leslie197
14 years ago
Never have had a spot of mildew on my Starfire - of course I garden on heavy wet clay so they never really dry out completely and I'm in zone 5 Michigan! Lovely color and good grower, gets some rebloom on side shoots. Planted in spring 2005, bought from local nursery.

Also have Bright Eyes (pink with red eyes) - repeat every thing above :) except planted in 2003. I actually have this planted with David, which overlaps Bright Eyes bloomtime, but David starts a week or so later. David's flower heads usually are bigger than BE and slightly taller for me (of course David is to the right and somewhat in front of BE!) LOL

Best Vendor for Tall Phlox ('David') and Something Stunning

Comments (9)

conniemcghee

deeje

Related Discussions

iloveplants-michele

ontnative

WendyB 5A/MA

tammyinwv

ontnative

summermusicz4ia

leslie197

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US