Wild Sweet William (Phlox maculata)

A.k.a. speckled phlox and meadow phlox. This medium height phlox, the wildtype of commonly seen cultivars, adapts well to garden conditions and is attractive to hummingbirds! Soil should have some organic matter to help with water retention. Flowers are lightly fragrant and can be deadheaded to encourage a second bloom. Plants will bloom profusely in full sun in moist conditions, but do better in part shade if water is inconsistent. Intolerant of drought, and foliage often dies back in late summer. May form a colony (by rhizome and reseeding) in favorable conditions, but stressed plants can be short lived. These phlox are so readily browsed by deer and rabbits that they can be difficult to reintroduce in the wild. Plants should be protected from rabbits and deer at least until they are established.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet Mesic, Mesic

Soil Type: Loam, Sandy Loam, Silt

Height: 2’-3’

Bloom Color: Pink, White

Bloom Time: Aug-Oct

Root Type: Taproot & Rhizome

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract butterflies, skippers, moths, and hummingbirds. Hosts two species of moth, a long-horned beetle, and a few smaller insects. Readily browsed by mammalian herbivores.

Notes: A few species of taller wild phlox in Indiana have very similar flowers, but Phlox maculata is easily identified by the profuse red speckling on its stem. Powdery mildew is not uncommon among phlox, but this species is said to have better resistance than the similar Phlox paniculata.