Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Opening Act White Phlox: Compact Clean White for Pots and Borders
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Opening Act White phlox is an early hybrid phlox that carries pure white, fragrant flowers from June through much of July, plus a few scattered blooms into early fall. It starts well before tall garden phlox, and at about 18 to 20 inches tall and wide, it is the most compact of its group.
White works with every lavender you could grow, purple, pink or white, so this is the safest phlox to plant beside a lavender collection.
Opening Act White at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox Opening Act White |
| Flowers | About 1 inch, pure white, fragrant |
| Foliage | Glossy dark green, mildew resistant |
| Size | 18 to 20 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | June through much of July, scattered blooms into early fall |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part sun |
| Wildlife | Pollinators visit the flowers |
Phlox in a pot
Its compact size makes Opening Act White one of the few phlox that look right in a container. That solves the usual phlox-and-lavender problem neatly: the phlox gets the rich, regularly watered potting mix it likes, and you can set the pot right at the edge of a lavender bed without changing the lavender's lean, dry soil at all. A pair of white phlox pots flanking a path into the lavender looks crisp all of June and July.
- Container: at least 12 to 14 inches across, with drainage holes.
- Mix: a good potting mix with compost.
- Water: pots dry quickly; water whenever the top inch is dry.
- Winter: move pots to a sheltered spot, or plant the phlox into the ground in fall.
In the border
In the ground, it suits the front to middle of a cottage border next to lavender, where it will get more water than the lavender does. White flowers also glow at dusk, which makes it a good choice near a patio. Plan it in the Companion Plant Planner.
- Soil: average to fertile, well drained.
- Airflow: its glossy leaves resist mildew and stay clean in heat and humidity; spacing helps.
- Rebloom: shear spent flower heads after the first flush.
- Spreading: it spreads slowly by stolons and can be divided in spring.
The plug tray format
Opening Act White is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, a good fit for growers, container programs and long borders. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Which lavenders go best with white phlox?
All of them. Deep purple lavender gives the strongest contrast; pink lavender makes a soft pastel pairing. Browse options in the Plant Finder.
Is it fragrant?
Yes. Pollinators visit the fragrant flowers, and people tend to lean in too.
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