Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Baby Doll White Phlox: Clean White Blooms That Glow at Dusk
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Baby Doll White phlox is a dwarf, densely upright garden phlox that tops its dark green leaves with a solid cap of clean white flowers. Some blooms may open with a faint pale-lavender blush. At about a foot tall, it tucks into small gaps, edges and containers where a full-size phlox would never fit. The flowers are fragrant, and like most white flowers, they seem to glow at dusk.
Baby Doll White at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox 'Baby Doll White' |
| Flowers | Pure white, about 1 inch, in clusters 3 to 4 inches across |
| Foliage | Dark green, lance-shaped |
| Size | 12 to 16 inches tall, 14 to 16 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks late June, repeats after shearing |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Fragrance | Moderate |
| Deer | Susceptible |
The evening garden
A lavender garden is at its best on a warm evening, when the scent hangs in the air. Baby Doll White adds the visual half of that experience. White flowers catch the last light and stay visible long after purple fades into the dusk, so a band of them along a patio or path makes the garden feel lit after sunset. Add the phlox fragrance to the lavender, and an evening on the porch gets a lot better.
Phlox wants richer soil and more regular water than lavender, so plant it in an adjacent cottage border. It begins in early June, about two weeks ahead of typical garden phlox, and the second flush after shearing picks up as the first lavender bloom winds down. Map it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: average to fertile and well drained.
- Water: water deeply during dry spells. In drought or reflected heat, lower leaves yellow and drop.
- Shearing: after about four weeks of first bloom, shear nearly to the ground for a second round.
- Air flow: it was selected for strong powdery mildew resistance, but avoid crowding for the best results.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan without protection. Cut stems down after hard frost or in early spring and clear the debris.
Spider mites can bronze the leaves in hot, dry weather, another reason to keep the water steady.
Pairing pink and white
Baby Doll White has a sister, Baby Doll Pink, with the same compact size and early bloom. Planted together in a drift, the two make a soft pink-and-white mix that looks lovely in view of a purple lavender bed.
Frequently asked questions
Is it good for containers?
Yes. Its small size suits containers and the front of the border.
Is it a good cut flower?
It is fair for cutting. Short stems work best in small vases and posies.
Will mildew be a problem?
It resists powdery mildew well. Good spacing and air flow help even more in humid summers.
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