Species smooth phlox
pink-purple flowers and buds with lime leaves and stems

smooth phlox

Phlox glaberrima 'Morris Berd'

Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima Morris Berd) is a hardy plant with dense dark green foliage. It is a perennial that produces beautiful long lasting flowers in shades of pink, red, and white. This evergreen grows best in well-drained soil and moist but not wet conditions. Its clusters of tiny star-shaped flowers appear in late spring and can provide months of bloom. It's a great choice for butterfly gardens attracting butterflies to its sweet nectar and mildly fragrant scent. Smooth Phlox is an excellent plant for borders, edges, and mass plantings in both full and partial sun.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

Rose to reddish-purple Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Smooth phlox plants should be watered regularly and evenly to keep the soil moist. During the cooler months, water every 7-10 days, and during the hotter months, water 1-2 times a week. It's important to pay attention to the soil when watering; if it dries out faster than every 7-10 days, it should be watered more often. If it remains evenly moist, it should be watered less often. When watering, avoid getting the leaves of the plant wet to prevent leaf fungi. Deep and infrequent watering is recommended over shallow and frequent watering. It is best to water near the base of the plant and to soil moisture to a depth of about 8 inches.

sunlight

Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima 'Morris Berd') grows best in an area with full sunlight. The plant does best in 6-8 hours of direct sunlight throughout the day. If planted in part shade, the growth will be a little more leggy and the flowers will not be as prolific. In shadier conditions, the foliage may become thin and spindly. For best results, plant in a location that receives full sunlight for at least 6 hours each day.

pruning

Smooth Phlox (Phlox glaberrima 'Morris Berd') should be pruned in early spring, right before the new growth begins. Cut back any buried shoots to the base of the plant, and remove any dead, diseased, or damaged stems. You can also shape the plant by pinching off unwanted stems at the tips. Prune smooth phlox lightly if possible, as it will produce more blooms if lightly pruned. Remove dead, spindly stems at the base, leaving a few stems for each plant. Also be sure to thin out the centres to increase air circulation and improve flowering. If necessary, you can also prune the stems back to 10-15cm in order to reduce the height.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Smooth phlox typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Smooth phlox typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map