• Photo of Phlox paniculata 'David' (Phlox paniculata 'David's)

Plant Profile: Phlox paniculata 'David'

Names

'David' Garden Phlox, Garden Phlox

  • Photo of Phlox paniculata 'David' (Phlox paniculata 'David's)

Phonetic Spelling:FLAH-ks pan-ick-yoo-LAY-tuh

Genus:Phlox

Species:paniculata

Family:Polemoniaceae

The 'David' cultivar is a herbaceous perennial phlox known for its striking, fragrant white flowers. These large clusters typically bloom from mid to late summer and, with regular deadheading, can extend their flowering into the fall.

To achieve optimal growth, 'David' should be planted in full sunlight within fertile, moist, and well-drained soil. During dry periods, it requires regular watering and some fertilization throughout the growing season. Although they demand a bit of care, the vibrant blooms over an extended period make the effort worthwhile. This phlox variety is ideal for the middle of perennial borders, can be planted in small groups, and pairs beautifully with other colored phloxes, attracting both hummingbirds and butterflies.

The 'David' phlox was developed as a seedling of Phlox paniculata at the Brandywine Conservancy in Pennsylvania and is named in honor of the Horticultural Coordinator's husband. It was selected for its pristine white flowers and notable resistance to powdery mildew.

For further details on Phlox paniculata, additional resources are available.

Phlox paniculata 'David' Feature Summary

Phlox paniculata 'David' Image Gallery

Tags

#cultivars
#hummingbirds
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#fragrant flowers
#fall flowers
#white flowers
#partial sun
#pyramidal
#moths
#mulch
#cut flowers
#upright form
#moist soil
#mounding
#low flammability
#well-drained soil
#multistemmed
#perennial flowers
#herbaceous perennial
#fire resistant
#clusters
#long bloom time
#rich soil
#borders
#alkaline soil tolerant
#clumping
#mildew resistant
#summmer flowers
#butterfly friendly
#HS302
#black walnut toxicity tolerant

Similar Plants

Phlox paniculata 'David' is often confused with:

Phlox paniculata 'David' Feature Summary

Attributes
North America (hybrid)
Provides nectar to butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, sphinx moths, and hummingbirds. Deer, rabbits browse on the foliage.
Perennial
Stem Cutting
Division
Root Cutting
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Attractive Flowers
Defines Paths
low flammability
Fruit
The fruit is a longitudinally dehiscent capsule with three or more valves that sometimes separate explosively.
Flowers
Panicles of densely packed tubular white flowers. Individual 5-petaled flowers are small at 1/2 to 1 inch diameter but the pyramidal flower clusters are 6-10 inches long Blooms mid to late summer of fall.
Fragrant
Good Cut
Showy
Long Bloom Season
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
3-5 inch long lance-shaped green leaves taper to a point
Lanceolate
3-6 inches
Soft
Smooth
1-3 inches
Stem
Stiff, upright stems seldom need staking.
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Erect
Mounding
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Nighttime Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Small groups
Patio
Walkways
Woodland
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Bees
Moths
Small Mammals
Hummingbirds

Phlox paniculata 'David' Attributes

Phlox paniculata 'David': Country Or Region Of Origin

North America (hybrid)

Phlox paniculata 'David': Wildlife Value

Provides nectar to butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, sphinx moths, and hummingbirds. Deer, rabbits browse on the foliage.

Phlox paniculata 'David': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Phlox paniculata 'David': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Phlox paniculata 'David': Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Phlox paniculata 'David': Fire Risk Rating

extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability

Phlox paniculata 'David' Fruit

Phlox paniculata 'David': Fruit Description

The fruit is a longitudinally dehiscent capsule with three or more valves that sometimes separate explosively.

Phlox paniculata 'David' Flowers

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Description

Panicles of densely packed tubular white flowers. Individual 5-petaled flowers are small at 1/2 to 1 inch diameter but the pyramidal flower clusters are 6-10 inches long Blooms mid to late summer of fall.

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Phlox paniculata 'David': Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Phlox paniculata 'David' Leaves

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Description

3-5 inch long lance-shaped green leaves taper to a point

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Phlox paniculata 'David': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Phlox paniculata 'David': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Phlox paniculata 'David' Stem

Phlox paniculata 'David': Stem Description

Stiff, upright stems seldom need staking.

Phlox paniculata 'David': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Phlox paniculata 'David' Whole Plant Traits

Phlox paniculata 'David': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Phlox paniculata 'David': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Phlox paniculata 'David': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Phlox paniculata 'David': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Phlox paniculata 'David' Cultural Conditions

Phlox paniculata 'David': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Phlox paniculata 'David': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Phlox paniculata 'David': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Phlox paniculata 'David': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Phlox paniculata 'David': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Phlox paniculata 'David': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Phlox paniculata 'David': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Phlox paniculata 'David' Landscape

Phlox paniculata 'David': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Phlox paniculata 'David': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Phlox paniculata 'David': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Phlox paniculata 'David': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Phlox paniculata 'David': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees