Phlox Luminary® 'Ultraviolet'

Phlox Luminary® 'Ultraviolet': Deep Violet Owning the Midsummer Border

Very dark magenta-violet clusters, so saturated they look like they need a warning label. 'Ultraviolet' is the plant equivalent of a blacklight party. SUNGLASSES RECOMMENDED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Phlox paniculata 'Ultraviolet'
• Common Name: Garden Phlox
• Series: Luminary®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 81–91 cm (32–36 in)
• Spread: 71–81 cm (28–32 in)
• Flowers: Very dark magenta-violet, fragrant, in large panicles held above the foliage
• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer (July to August)
• Foliage: Bright green
• Features: Fragrant, improved powdery mildew resistance, good cut flower
• Plant Patent: USPP 33,607

Where to Plant: At almost a metre tall, it belongs in the middle or back of a sunny border. It's also a natural for pollinator gardens and cutting beds, and it handles a cold Ottawa or Montreal winter without complaint.

Companion Plants: Eupatorium 'Atropurpureum' towers behind with pink flower heads from August to October. Tradescantia 'Innocence' adds white flowers at 50 to 60 cm from June to September. Coreopsis lanceolata brings yellow flowers at the front from May to July. Deep purple phlox in the middle ties it together in sun or part sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun in fertile, consistently moist, well-drained soil. Proven Winners notes it thrives with regular feeding. Full sun gives the best mildew resistance, so don't tuck it into a crowded, shady corner. Water deeply at the base during dry spells and leave space for air to move around the clump. Deadhead faded flower heads to extend the show. Cut stems to the ground in late fall or early spring, and divide in spring every few years. Deer will browse garden phlox, so protect it if they're common in your area.

History: Garden phlox is native to the eastern United States and has been a summer border classic for generations. The Luminary® series comes from Walters Gardens in Michigan, is sold by Proven Winners®, and was bred for sturdy, fragrant plants with stronger resistance to the powdery mildew that has long bothered tall phlox.

Final Thoughts: Fragrant, mildew resistant and swarmed by bees and hummingbirds. Plant it where the light is good. LET IT GLOW.