Garden phlox is another old-fashioned charmer, but look for the newer varieties that have been bred to be powdery mildew resistant. Help them along even more by giving them a spot in full sun with good air flow and a rich soil to help them grow strong.
If you can provide all that, Phlox paniculata will grow tall and sturdy with multiple repeat blooms, especially if you keep cutting them off. The phlox pictured here is the white Phlox 'David', one of the first midlew resistant varieties sold and still popular. The phlox included in the garden design has lilac-pink blossoms.
Phlox paniculata 'Franz Schubert' (USDA Zones 4 - 8, 2-3' x 2', Lilac-Pink Blooms: Mid- to Late Summer)
Alternatives:
- Phlox paniulata 'Eva Cullum' - Pink flowers with a darker center eye.
- Phlox paniculata 'Laura' - Lilac flowers with white centers.
