Jeana Phlox-Pollinator Super Star

‘Jeana’ Phlox is one of the top pollinator attracting plants in my garden in the dog days of summer. Attracting dozens of butterflies and other assorted bees, my patch starts in the late morning with a few butterflies and by the end of the heat of the day, the plants look like they are fluttering and alive, there are so many butterflies! Even ignoring the nearby Zinnias, ‘Jeana’ is by far the favorite butterfly nectar source in late July into September for a solid 7-8 weeks.

Possessing outstanding mildew resistance and lavender-pink flower clusters, this native phlox is a super star in my garden and always draws a lot of interest from visitors. Pollinators cluster around the heads constantly, providing a show for weeks in the mid-summer, and giving me lots of photography opportunities. Ranking at the top in ecological and horticultural trials, this plant should be in many more gardens.

Just listen to this rave review from Mt Cuba Center in Delaware who has trial gardens testing for usefulness, beauty, and pollinator visits;

“Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is, without a doubt, the best-performing phlox from the trial. This cultivar was discovered growing along the Harpeth River near Nashville, Tennessee and named after its discoverer, Jeana Prewitt. Although there were many plants of Phlox paniculata in the area, ‘Jeana’ in particular stood out for its exceptionally mildew-free foliage. This trait carries through to the garden and is one of the main reasons ‘Jeana’ performed so well in the trial. This 5′ tall beauty also produces an impressive floral display from mid-July through early September. Interestingly, the individual flowers, or pips, are much smaller than any other garden phlox. However, that does not deter the butterflies that feed on its nectar. In fact, we found ‘Jeana’ attracted more butterflies than any other garden phlox in the entire trial. With a top rank in both horticultural and ecological evaluations, Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is hard to beat.”

The trial gardens at Mt Cuba with ‘Jeana’ Phlox ready to bloom, photo courtesy of Mt Cuba

A taller flower topping out at 4′ to 5′, I love grouping these plants for a big show of flowers plus pollinators. Sometimes staking or some kind of support is necessary, like helpful supporting plants surrounding your clump. One of the only phlox paniculatas that I know tolerating deer browsing, it is a useful landscape plant for the perennial border. The lavender pink shade goes well with many other colors and the plant behaves and doesn’t spread aggressively. And as the review on My Cuba states, the individual florets are smaller than a normal Phlox but clustered thickly to give a fuller look than other phloxes.

Photo courtesy of Mt Cuba

Facts

Common Name: garden phlox
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Lavender-pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Clay Soil, Black Walnut
Where to purchase ‘Jeana’ Phlox? At Independent Garden Centers and Nurseries, and more than likely, the plant will have an American Beauties hang tag identifying it as a native plant choice. For local people in Baltimore County, Maryland, go to Valley View Farms. You know you are making a good environmental choice for your garden.
American Beauties Native Plants is a great resource for home gardeners with a Native Plant Library on-line. Native perennials, grasses, vines, trees and shrubs which attract wildlife and pollinators especially are listed in an easy-to-use resource guide. Listed by common name or botanical name, you can scroll through the many possibilities available for planting. I find the plant search for deer resistant plants extremely useful. The web site even has landscape design plans using natives for every area  of the U.S. for sun or shade.
Red Bodied Swallowtail on ‘Jeana’ Phlox
This vase container regular pink phlox and the smaller ‘Jeana’ phlox

As a cut flower, I find that ‘Jeana’ lasts longer in the vase than other phloxes and goes well with other flowers.

Photo courtesy of Mt Cuba
Monarchs flock to ‘Jeana’ Phlox

2 Replies to “Jeana Phlox-Pollinator Super Star”

  1. Thank you for this, and all the great information & experiences you provide. Jeana is a favorite here, too. We visited Mt. Cuba on Sunday & practically had the whole place to ourselves. You probably already know, Mt Cuba earned the distinction of BEST BOTANICAL GARDEN in the USA Today Reader’s Choice Award. Bravo!!

    1. Yes, I just visited Chanticleer and Longwood on a blistering hot day! Exhausting! Mt Cuba is next!

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