Phlox, Garden Phlox 'Nicky'

This plant performs very well in the UP of Michigan (zone 4) with no help from me. Mine is definitely in part shade- morning sun only, an...Read Mored soil that is on the sandy side. It's a tough little plant. I confess I'm not crazy about the color- I find it a bit too intense for my taste- a deep, vivid, purplish magenta, but that's all a matter of taste of course. In my opinion it looks absolutely awful next to yellow/gold rudbeckia. So companion planting is a bit of a challenge, but if you like the color, it's a great plant.

The flower color is rich and brilliant and deep, a clear magenta purple that I don't find harsh. As always with garden phlox that have bl...Read Moreuish flowers, the color varies with the temperature, darker and bluer when it's cooler, pinker when it's hottest.

It's great combined with pink and violet flowers and with purple or chartreuse foliage. (Try Agastache 'Blue Boa', Veronica 'Purpleicious' or V. longifolia, Euphorbia x dulcis 'Chameleon', Hibiscus syriaca 'Blue Satin', Hibiscus x 'Midnight Marvel', Hosta 'Krossa Regal', Hemerocallis 'Frequent Flyer', Cotinus 'Velvet Cloak', etc.) I agree that it quarrels with gold flowers.

Stature is relatively short, 2-3 feet.

Good mildew resistance here.

As with all Phlox paniculata, performance is best here with consistent soil moisture and some afternoon shade.

Released by Karl Foerster in 1964.

I love Nicky! She bloomed all summer for me. Just when I thought she was finished, new growth appeared followed by more blooms. The color...Read More is vivid and coordinates well with most other plants. Pretty fragrance, too!

PHLOX paniculata Nicky - Garden Phlox - Tall 3-4' - Plant 20" apart. Zone 4-8. Pleasing rich purple/pink. Immense flower trusses combine ...Read Moreto form a flowering ball. Nicely fragrant.