Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Party Girl Garden Phlox: Pink-Starred White Heads for Midsummer
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Party Girl garden phlox carries big, dome-shaped heads of white flowers, each about an inch across with a soft pink star radiating from the center. From a distance the heads read as white with a pale pink blush; up close, the star pattern is the charm. The flowers have the sweet, spicy-clove fragrance typical of garden phlox, strongest on warm evenings.
It grows into a full, upright clump about 28 to 32 inches tall and just as wide, with dark green leaves selected for strong powdery mildew resistance.
Party Girl at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox paniculata 'Party Girl' |
| Flowers | White with a light pink star center, in 6 to 10 inch heads |
| Fragrance | Sweet and spicy, clove-like |
| Size | 28 to 32 inches tall and wide |
| Bloom | Early July, peaks late July, about six weeks with good rebloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds |
The handoff from lavender
Party Girl begins blooming in early July, just as the first lavender flush is winding down. Planted in a cottage border beside the lavender, it keeps that part of the garden fragrant and full of butterflies through late summer. White and soft pink are an easy match for purple, and at 2 to 3 feet tall it makes a good middle row with lavender in front of or beside it.
Keep them in neighboring beds rather than intermixed. Phlox likes richer soil and more regular water than lavender, and the extra moisture would not do lavender any favors. Plan the border in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care through the year
- Sun and air: full sun and good air flow give the most flowers and healthiest leaves.
- Water: steady moisture. In drought or reflected heat, lower leaves yellow and drop, so water deeply during dry spells.
- Deadheading: cut spent clusters to encourage rebloom.
- Pests: spider mites can bronze leaves in hot, dry weather.
- Winter: fully hardy in Michigan without protection. Cut stems to the ground after hard frost or in early spring and clear the debris.
Cutting for bouquets
Party Girl performs well as a cut flower. Cut stems when about a third of the florets on a head are open and put them straight into water. White phlox and fresh lavender together make a fragrant summer bouquet; the Cut Flower Planner can help you time a cutting garden.
Plug tray or bare root
Choose the 72-cell plug tray for larger borders or the bare root plant for a single clump. See the product pages for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Do deer eat garden phlox?
Yes, deer find it tasty. Protect it in deer country.
Does Party Girl get powdery mildew?
It was selected for strong mildew resistance. Full sun, airflow and steady moisture keep it cleaner still.
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