Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Fashionably Early Princess Phlox: The First Fuchsia of Phlox Season
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Fashionably Early Princess phlox is the first of its group to bloom, opening dense, dome-shaped heads of light fuchsia-pink flowers in early June, each with a deeper pink eye. That is weeks before most garden phlox. It keeps flowering through much of July and often puts out a few more blooms in fall.
Its broad, thick, glossy leaves resist mildew and stay clean all season, and the fragrant flowers draw butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. At 28 to 32 inches tall, it works in the center or back of a sunny border.
Princess at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox Fashionably Early 'Princess' |
| Flowers | Light fuchsia pink with a darker pink eye, fragrant |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks late June, repeats into fall |
| Size | 28 to 32 inches tall, 26 to 30 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun for the best flowers; tolerates part shade |
| Foliage | Glossy green, thick, mildew resistant |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Bridging the gap to lavender season
Early June can feel like a lull. The spring bulbs and creeping phlox are done, and lavender is still in tight buds. Princess fills that window. Its fuchsia-pink heads peak in late June, just as English lavenders begin to open, so a border of Princess beside a lavender bed hands the color off without a gap.
Fuchsia pink is also a lively contrast to purple. It warms up a cool lavender planting without clashing, the way a pink scarf works with a gray coat. Because tall phlox wants richer soil and more regular water than lavender, plant it in an adjacent cottage border rather than between lavender plants. Test placements in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Sun: full sun gives the most flowers.
- Soil and water: average to fertile, well-drained, with regular water. Water deeply during dry spells; drought causes lower leaves to yellow and drop.
- Repeat bloom: remove spent flower heads after the first flush.
- Air flow: give each plant space; even mildew-resistant phlox appreciates a breeze.
- Spread: slowly widens over time by underground stems.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan. Cut stems to the ground after a hard frost or in early spring and clear the debris.
A hummingbird stop
Princess has great pollinator value. Hummingbirds visit its tubular flowers, and butterflies and bees work the heads through June and July. Paired with nearby lavender, it helps make a sunny corner of the yard a busy pollinator stop all summer. It is a good cut flower too, with a sweet, spicy clove scent that is strongest on warm evenings.
Plug tray or bare root
Princess is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and large plantings, and as a bare root plant for home gardens. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Which Fashionably Early phlox blooms first?
Princess is the earliest of the series, starting in early June and peaking in late June.
Will it rebloom?
Yes. Removing spent heads after the first flush encourages repeat flowers into fall.
Can I plant it right next to my lavender?
Close by, but not in the same soil. Give it a border with richer soil and regular water a few feet from the lavender.
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