Phlox adsurgens

RHS Plant Profile

northern phlox

Herbaceous Perennial

A semi-evergreen perennial with a prostrate habit, forming a mat to 25cm high, with glossy, ovate to rounded green leaves. In late spring and early summer, produces clusters of star-shaped flowers to 2.5cm across, rich pink with paler central eyes, at the tips of flowering stems

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Polemoniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Matforming, Spreading branched
Genus: Phlox may be evergreen or herbaceous, mat-forming or erect perennials or shrubs, with simple leaves and salver-shaped flowers in terminal clusters
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers humus-rich, moist but well drained soil in partial or dappled shade, but will also grow in poorer soils and will tolerate some direct sun. See phlox cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by softwood cuttings in spring, or by root cuttings in early autumn or winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to stem and bulb eelworms

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, leafy gall and leaf spot