Jeana garden phlox
Phlox paniculata 'Jeana'. Family Polemoniaceae. Perennial.
Also called Jeana tall phlox, Jeana summer phlox.
'Jeana' is a tall, clump-forming perennial with large clusters of small lavender-pink flowers from midsummer into autumn. Gardeners grow it for its long flowering season, strong attraction to butterflies and unusually good resistance to powdery mildew.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; light afternoon shade helps in hot climates, but heavy shade reduces flowering.
- Water
- Keep the root zone evenly moist, especially during establishment and summer dry spells; avoid waterlogged soil.
- Soil
- Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; improve very sandy or heavy soil with compost.
- Height
- 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m)
- Spread
- 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)
- Flowers
- Midsummer to early autumn; airy clusters of small lavender-pink flowers.
- Foliage
- Opposite pairs of pointed, lance-shaped green leaves on upright stems; dies back in winter.
- Growth
- Moderate; forms a substantial clump over several growing seasons.
- Care needed
- Medium
The year at a glance
- Pollinators
- Cold hardy
- Disease resistant
- Low allergen
- Fragrant
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Toughness
- Fairly tough
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
1 ft (0.3 m)
After 1 year
2.1 ft (0.65 m)
After 2 years
3 ft (1 m)
After 3 years
4 ft (1.4 m)
full size
About 3 years to full size.
From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Safe
- Native to
- the US
- Growth rate
- Moderate
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterApr–May, Sep–Oct, every 14 days
- Water established clumps deeply when rain is insufficient; new plants need more frequent checks.
- WaterJun–Aug, every 7 days
- Water established clumps at soil level in dry weather, keeping roots evenly moist.
- FeedMar–Apr
- Top-dress lightly with compost; avoid high-nitrogen feeding.
- MulchApr
- Apply 5 cm of organic mulch, leaving emerging stems clear.
- DivideMar–Apr
- Divide congested clumps every three to four years and water divisions thoroughly.
- ProtectMay–Jun
- Install discreet supports before stems lean in exposed sites.
- DeadheadJul–Sep, every 7 days
- Cut faded clusters above healthy leaves to encourage side flowers and limit seedlings.
- PruneFeb–Mar
- Cut remaining dead stems near ground level before new growth develops.
- PruneOct–Nov
- Remove diseased stems and foliage; healthy stems may remain until late winter.
- Water deeply at soil level during dry spells; do not let newly planted clumps dry out.
- Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages soft growth.
- Mulch with 2 in (5 cm) of organic material, keeping it clear of the emerging stems.
- Allow space between clumps for airflow rather than crowding them among dense neighbours.
- Support stems early if the site is windy or growth begins to lean.
- Divide congested clumps in spring, usually every three to four years.
Pruning. Remove spent flower clusters just above a healthy pair of leaves to encourage side flowers and reduce self-seeding. Cut dead stems near ground level in late winter or early spring; remove diseased stems in autumn instead.
Through the year
- Early spring
- Cut back remaining dead stems before new shoots grow tall.
- Spring
- Plant or divide clumps, water them in thoroughly, and add compost and mulch.
- Late spring
- Install discreet supports where stems are exposed to wind.
- Summer
- Water during dry spells and check leaves for mildew and spider mites.
- Midsummer to early autumn
- Remove faded flower clusters if you want further flowering and fewer seedlings.
- Late autumn
- Clear diseased foliage; leave healthy stems standing until late winter if preferred.
In the garden
- Plant in the middle or back of a sunny mixed border, behind shorter perennials that hide the lower stems.
- Repeat small groups among ornamental grasses for upright summer colour and a loose, naturalistic effect.
- Combine with coneflowers and black-eyed Susans in a butterfly border with moist, well-drained soil.
- Use with white flowers and blue-flowered perennials in a soft pink-and-lavender cottage border.
Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, New perennial (prairie), Pollinator garden, Wildlife garden and Pastel border.
Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Bee balm, Switchgrass, Culver's root and Shasta daisy.
Wildlife: The nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies, including swallowtails, as well as bees and other pollinating insects. Deer and rabbits may browse the shoots.
Problems to watch for
- Powdery mildew: 'Jeana' is highly resistant, not immune; provide airflow, avoid drought stress and remove affected debris at season's end.
- Spider mites in hot, dry weather: look for fine stippling and webbing; rinse leaf undersides with water and keep roots adequately watered.
- Leaning or floppy stems: provide more sun, avoid excess nitrogen and add supports before flowering.
- Root or crown rot: avoid soggy sites and improve drainage before replanting.
Safety
Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is recognized as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant, not a food crop.
Easily confused with
Other garden phlox cultivars (Phlox paniculata)
'Jeana' has notably small lavender-pink individual flowers in large clusters and a tall habit. Similar cultivars can be difficult to distinguish reliably without a label.
Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Dame's rocket has four petals per flower and alternate leaves; garden phlox has five petal lobes and opposite leaves. Dame's rocket usually flowers earlier.
Spotted phlox (Phlox maculata)
Spotted phlox typically has purple-spotted stems and narrower, more cylindrical flower clusters; 'Jeana' has broader, branched clusters.
The name
Phlox comes from the Greek word for flame, while paniculata refers to the branched flower clusters.
Propagation. Divide in spring or take basal cuttings from young shoots to retain the cultivar's characteristics. Seedlings may differ from 'Jeana'; remove unwanted seedlings if maintaining a uniform planting.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Phlox paniculata
- In the US and Canada
- Native in the lower 48 states. Introduced in Canada.
- Native range
- Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana.
- Measured
- Average height 120 cm.
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
See it in your own yard.
Upload a photo of your yard and see it redesigned with plants that suit your climate, each checked against your zone.