Native to the eastern part of our country, tall phlox is found in the wild as far west as Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. It is related to creeping phlox (P. stolonifera), which is also a garden mainstay in spring. Although the plants look very different - creeping phlox grows just a few inches tall and tall phlox may grow four feet tall or more - the individual flowers of each appear remarkably similar.

Tough and dependable, tall phlox has one major flaw. It's susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can disfigure the foliage and sap the strength of the plant. In the past, gardeners fought a losing battle to spray their plants with anti-mildew sprays. Newer cultivars have been selected that resist powdery mildew. These include 'Bright Eyes," with pink flowers with a red center eye, lilac 'Franz Schubert,' purple 'Russian Violet,' salmon pink 'Sir John Falstaff' and cherry red 'Starfire.'

I grow several of these with good results, but the best performing tall phlox by a mile is pure white 'David.' With absolutely no attention from me, it grows and flowers perfectly each season. It's at its peak now and will remain showy well into fall. 'David' is such a good plant that it was named by The Perennial Plant Association as "plant of the year" in 2002. The original plant was grown from seed collected from wild plants in the Brandywine Valley in Pennsylvania in 1980. It's superiority was noted early and the plant was quickly propagated so gardeners everywhere could enjoy it.

Tall phlox grow best in a sunny spot with regular, even moisture, although they are somewhat drought tolerant. The rounded heads of the plants are composed of hundreds of individual flowers. Most carry a gentle, sweet scent and butterflies are attracted to them. The plants are easily divided in early spring. They need little care except to be cut back to the ground in late winter. Some gardeners deadhead the plants after they flower to prevent them from seeding. Seedlings usually revert to the original pale mauve flower coloration of the majority of the wild plants.

If your garden needs a lift now, you can purchase tall phlox at your local nursery. Check for evidence of mildew on the leaves. Pass up those that show any. For best results, try to secure 'David.' It's one of those nearly perfect plants.