David Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata 'David'
flowerDavid is the benchmark white garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) and a 2002 Perennial Plant of the Year, prized above all for its outstanding resistance to powdery mildew - the disease that disfigures most tall phlox. It forms upright 3 to 4 ft clumps topped from mid to late summer with large, domed heads of pure-white, sweetly fragrant flowers. The long-tubed blooms are built for butterflies and hummingbirds and are also worked by long-tongued bees and night-flying moths, making David a centerpiece of the fragrant summer pollinator border.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 4 days
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Bloom
~110 days
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
18-24 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Crown at soil line
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, medium-moist, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Spring and again before bloom
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 or compost
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant David in full sun to very light shade in rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Space plants 18 to 24 in. apart - generous spacing plus thinning each clump to its 5 or 6 strongest stems in spring is the secret to airflow and mildew-free foliage. Water at the base, never overhead, and mulch to keep roots cool and moist. Deadhead spent heads to encourage more bloom and prevent the seedlings (which revert to washy magenta) from crowding out the named plant. Divide every 3 to 4 years in spring.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 15
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Projected first bloom
Aug 3
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Bee Balm — Both are fragrant, hummingbird-friendly summer bloomers that thrive in the same rich, moist border
- Purple Coneflower — Sturdy daisy form that contrasts the phlox domes and shares the season
- Black-Eyed Susan — Gold daisies against the white phlox, both peaking in mid to late summer
- May Night Salvia — Earlier bloomer that fills the lower border and feeds bees before phlox peaks
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
David is highly resistant, but maximize it with full sun, 18 to 24 in. spacing, spring thinning of stems, and base watering; remove any affected leaves
Most likely in hot, dry spells - rinse leaf undersides and keep plants watered to avoid drought stress
Hose colonies off shoot tips and support ladybugs and lacewings
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Garden phlox is a classic fragrant cut flower - cut when about half the florets in the head are open, in the cool morning, and it will perfume a room. Deadhead spent heads promptly: it encourages a longer bloom and, importantly, prevents self-sown seedlings that revert to a muddy magenta and crowd out David. Cut stems back after flowering or leave a few heads for late interest.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Garden phlox is a premier nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds: the long-tubed flowers are perfectly shaped for their mouthparts and for long-tongued bees, and the strong evening fragrance also draws pollinating hawk moths. David delivers all of that across weeks of summer bloom, when its mildew resistance keeps the plant healthy and flowering rather than defoliated.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.