Phlox maculata 'Alpha' AGM

Meadow Phlox Polemoniaceae

A refined form of the North American meadow phlox, Phlox maculata ‘Alpha’ produces upright stems clothed in narrow, glossy green leaves and topped by dense, cylindrical panicles of fragrant lilac-pink flowers, each with a subtly darker eye. Unlike the rather sprawling reputation of some garden phlox, this is a naturally upright, self-supporting plant and a particularly useful choice for the middle of a sunny or lightly shaded border. It is also attractive to bees and butterflies, while its relatively narrow foliage gives the plant a lighter, more graceful appearance than P. paniculata. The species is native to moist meadows and open habitats of eastern North America, so ‘Alpha’ appreciates fertile, moisture-retentive soil rather than being treated to the sort of drought experienced by its Mediterranean namesakes.

Breeder & introduction: ‘Alpha’ was raised and introduced by the German plantsman Georg Arends in the early 20th century, making it one of the historic cultivars associated with the Arends nursery at Ronsdorf. It has subsequently become an established cultivar in European horticulture and received the RHS Award of Garden Merit, with the RHS rating it H6. 

Height: 75–100cm
Spread: 50–75cm
Flowering: June–August
Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Fertile, moist but well-drained
Wildlife: Attractive to bees and butterflies