General Culture:

Best grown in moderately fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Prefers rich, moist, organic soils. Tolerates more soil moisture than most other species of phlox. Avoid overhead watering, however. Appreciates a summer mulch which helps keep roots cool. Remove faded flower clusters to prolong bloom and to prevent unwanted self-seeding.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Smooth phlox is a Missouri-native, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 2-4' tall and occurs in wet woods, wet thickets, wet meadows and low prairies in eastern Missouri south of the St. Louis area. Aromatic, rose to reddish-purple, tubular, five-lobed, 1" diameter flowers with long corolla tubes appear in large, terminal, pyramidal clusters atop stiff, upright stems which seldom need staking. One of the few tall phloxes to bloom in spring. Very thin, opposite, lance-shaped leaves (to 5" long). This species is very similar in appearance to P. paniculata (garden phlox) except habit is more slender, bloom occurs earlier (spring), plant is hairless (as the common name suggests) and leaves are narrower. A good cut flower.