Woodland phlox ‘Blue Moon’
* Common name: Woodland phlox ‘Blue Moon’
‘Blue Moon’ is a long-blooming variety of native woodland phlox.
* Botanical name: Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’
* What it is: ‘Blue Moon’ is a heavy and long-blooming variety of our Pennsylvania native woodland phlox. Its blue-violet flowers are bigger than the species, offer early-spring food to pollinators, and nearly cover the foliage from mid-April to about mid-May. Deer usually don’t bother this species.
* Size: Plants grow in a foot-tall, slowly spreading mound. Space 18 inches apart at planting.
* Where to use: As the name suggests, woodland phlox does best in shade to part-shade settings, especially in the dappled light along woods edges. In a home garden, ‘Blue Moon’ can be grouped in the shade of trees or planted in north- or east-facing foundation beds. It’s also a good choice for edging woodland or similar shady paths.
Although woodland phlox prefers somewhat damp and well drained soil, it’ll tolerate some drought.
* Care: Water the first season to establish the roots, then ‘Blue Moon’ should need watering only during extended dry periods. Fertilizer usually is not needed.
Plants “self-clean” well, so there’s no need to deadhead. They’re also compact enough that they don’t need trimmed after bloom. If plants eventually spread beyond where you want, dig, divide, and replant fist-sized clumps in early fall.
* Great partner: The mounded habit contrasts nicely with spiky or frilly other natives that do well in damp shade, such as Pennsylvania sedge, wood fern, or Christmas fern. Fothergilla is a good shrub partner that blooms about the same time.