Opening Act White Phlox - 72-Cell Plug Tray

Opening Act White is an early hybrid phlox that carries pure white flowers from June through much of July, plus a few scattered blooms into early fall. It starts blooming well before tall garden phlox.

The glossy, dark green foliage resists mildew and stays clean in heat and humidity. At about 18 to 20 inches, it suits the front to middle of the border and containers, spreading slowly by stolons. Pollinators visit the fragrant flowers.

What it looks like

Flat, five-petaled flowers about 1 inch across in pure white are gathered into rounded clusters at the stem tips. Leaves are lance-shaped, glossy and dark green, arranged in pairs up the stems. The plant forms a compact, upright, slowly spreading clump about 18 to 20 inches tall and wide. At peak bloom crisp white clusters cover the top of the dark green clump.

Growing it with lavender

Phlox enjoys sun like lavender but wants richer soil and more regular water, so plant it in an adjacent cottage border, where its white flowers pick up as the first lavender bloom winds down.

Care

Plant in full sun for the best flowers, or part shade, in average to fertile, well-drained soil with regular water. Hardy in zones 4-8. Shear spent flower heads after the first flush to encourage more blooms later, and give it room for air to move, which helps keep the leaves clean; it spreads slowly by underground stems.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Phlox
• Flower color: Pure white
• Foliage: Glossy dark green
• Growth habit: Compact, upright, slowly spreading clump
• Mature size: 18–20 in tall × 18–20 in wide
• USDA hardiness zones: 4–8
• Light: full sun, part sun to part shade
• Bloom start: Early-June
• Peak bloom: Late-June
• Bloom pattern: Repeat Blooming
• Deer resistance: Susceptible
• Pollinator value: Great

Sizes and shipping

One full 72-cell plug tray: 72 young starter plugs of this variety (cells about 1⅓ in. wide × 2½ in. deep), rooted and ready to pot up into quarts or gallons. Best for growers and nurseries. Potted plants and plug trays ship during our live-plant seasons, March 1–May 31 and October 1–November 30; June through September is local pickup only. Plugs, potted plants and trays do not ship to AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT or WA.