2016 – Wild Blue Phlox
Wild blue phlox or woodland phlox is a slow-growing herbaceous groundcover belonging to the Phlox plant family Polemoniaceae. At maturity, wild blue phlox can reach 12-18 inches in height and 8-12 inches in spread. The opposite, narrow leaves are slightly pubescent just like the stem. One subtle feature to observe is that the leaf tips tend to be blunt. The flower of P. divaricata blooms April through May. The five petaled flowers are shallowly notched. The flowers of wild blue phlox are cross pollinated by bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, skippers, and moths.
As the common name implies, woodland phlox is native to the deciduous woods which explains why P. divaricata likes to grow in rich, moist, well-drained, average soils with part sun to light or dappled shade. If planted in dense shade, wild blue phlox will not be as floriferous. And that would be a real shame because the fragrant, lavender flowers attract hummingbirds, too. For more flowers, cut back after the first bloom to allow a second flush of flowers to emerge. Wild blue phlox makes an excellent addition to a naturalized perennial garden or to a rock garden. Wild Blue Phlox does not tolerate drought conditions. Additionally, wild blue phlox can be susceptible to powdery mildew, but moist, well-drained soil and good air flow should be able to prevent the fungus from affecting the plant
Allegheny spurge, our native pachysandra, has many exceptional features that set it apart from the more familiar Asian pachysandras. One of the main differences can be seen in the foliage; it has mottled, rounded, gray-green leaves that are held in loose whorls. The leaves are generally evergreen, but may turn purplish and may exhibit some dieback in harsh winters. In early spring, the plants form dense spikes of pinkish-white flowers.
Allegheny spurge is generally disease and pest resistant, clump-forming rather than spreading, and is a great ground cover for part to full shade in organic, moist, well-drained soil.
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