2024 Perennial Plant of the Year
Found by and named after Jeana Prewitt of Nashville, TN, this selection is highly rated by the Mt. Cuba Center with outstanding mildew resistance and varying shades of fragrant, lavender-pink flowers midsummer through early fall. Foliage remains clean green while flower clusters create a tiered effect along upright, multi-stemmed branches. Expect a flurry of pollinator activity!
Thrives in moist to average soil in full sun to light shade. It can be found from Ontario to Florida and west to Minnesota to Texas. In some locations, it is theorized garden phlox found in the wild are escaped from cultivation. Plants in shade will have smaller flowers and weaker stems. Tolerant of drought once established. Deadhead flowers to encourage reblooming.
Nectar supports butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, sphinx moths and hummingbirds. Given a perfect 5-star rating, the only Phlox out of 66 to do so by Mt. Cuba’s Phlox Trials, “‘Jeana’ combines ecological value, disease resistance, and habit and form into one powerhouse package.”