Everyone Flocks To Phlox

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - You can't plant too much phlox, one of the prettiest perennials.

Phlox are native plants, so they're very easy to grow around here, they attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and people, and come in many varieties.

Recently we've seen the spring bloomers, including 'mountain' or 'moss phlox,' Phlox subulata, which covers the ground like a carpet and drapes gracefully over the edges of walls. It loves sun and grows in poor-to-average soil, it's not fussy at all.

A slightly taller 'creeping phlox' Phlox stolonifera, makes a good ground cover in part-sun to part-shade.

Pictured here is a choice for even shadier spots, 'woodland phlox,' Phlox divaricata, which grows about knee-high and brightens areas around shrubs and trees with ponds of brilliant violet-blue flowers.

For summer, 2-to-4 foot tall, sun-loving 'garden phlox' Phlox paniculata, gives you big blooms from July into Fall, filling your yard with happy butterflies and your vases with fragrant flowers in shades of white, pink, purple and blue.

Get the message? Go get some phlox!