Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Luminary® Prismatic Pink Phlox: Bubblegum Pink with a Lilac Cast
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Luminary® Prismatic Pink garden phlox carries big, full, heavily branched heads of bubblegum-pink flowers, each with a deeper pink eye. Look closely and the pink has a slight lilac cast, which is the secret to why it sits so comfortably near lavender. It blooms from early July for up to six weeks, reblooms with deadheading and resists the powdery mildew that often troubles garden phlox in humid weather.
Prismatic Pink at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox paniculata Luminary® Prismatic Pink |
| Flowers | Bubblegum pink with a lilac cast and dark pink eye |
| Foliage | Dark green |
| Size | 32 to 34 inches tall, 24 to 28 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early July, peaks late July, up to six weeks plus rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Wildlife | Butterflies, hummingbirds and bees |
| Deer | Susceptible |
Colors that get along
Some pinks clash with purple; this one does not. The lilac undertone in Prismatic Pink sits in the same cool family as lavender, so the two blend rather than compete. For a soft cottage look, run a lavender hedge along the sunny front of a planting and put a drift of Prismatic Pink in a richer border behind it, where the soil stays moist. Lavender peaks first; the phlox opens in early July as that first bloom fades and keeps the pink-and-purple theme going through late summer.
Remember the soil split: phlox wants fertile, moist ground, lavender wants lean and dry. Keep them in neighboring beds and both will thrive. Lay it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
A year with Prismatic Pink
- Early spring: cut any remaining old stems to the ground and clear debris. Divide crowded clumps every few years now.
- Late spring: add compost around the plant and water as growth takes off.
- July and August: water deeply in dry spells; drought or reflected heat makes lower leaves yellow and drop. Deadhead spent clusters for repeat flowers.
- Late summer: watch for spider mites in hot, dry weather, which bronze the leaves.
- Fall: after a hard frost, cut stems down and tidy up. It is fully hardy in Michigan without protection.
The Care Calendar can help you line up phlox chores with your lavender pruning.
Fragrance and cut flowers
The flowers carry the sweet, spicy-clove fragrance typical of garden phlox, strongest on warm evenings. They are rated good for cutting; cut when about half the flowers in a head are open and get them into water quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How tall does it get?
About 32 to 34 inches, a good height for the middle of a border.
Will it get powdery mildew?
It was selected for excellent mildew resistance. Good spacing and morning watering at the base give it the best chance in humid summers.
Plug tray or bare root?
The 72-cell plug tray is for growers and large plantings; the bare root plant suits a home border. See each product page for current availability.
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