Annual phlox (Phlox drummondii)
Care, watering, light and tips for Annual phlox on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Polemoniaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Annual phlox
Phlox drummondii, commonly known as annual phlox or sommerfloks, is a delightful annual plant that produces a profusion of bright, fragrant flowers in a wide range of colors. Its small blossoms, often with a contrasting eye, form dense clusters that add a vibrant touch to any garden. It is ideal for flower beds, borders, rockeries, and containers, creating a floral display from late spring until the first frosts.
Native range
Texas, United States and northeastern Mexico
Care tips
It requires full sun for abundant flowering, although it tolerates some partial shade in very hot climates. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during dry periods. It prefers well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic to neutral soils. A common mistake is not deadheading spent flowers, which encourages continuous and more abundant blooming.
How to save a dying Annual phlox
- Warning signs
- Wilting, yellowing, or spotted leaves, dropping flowers or tender shoots. Lack of blooming.
- First aid
- Check watering: if dry, water thoroughly; if waterlogged, drain and amend soil. Place in full sun.
- What kills it
- Excessive shade, lack of direct sun, or improper watering (too much or too little) are its main killers. It doesn't tolerate waterlogging.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. It's an annual, so its cycle is limited, but it can recover and bloom if conditions are corrected.