Photo: Wilson44691, CC0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata): when and how to prune
Phlox divaricata
Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Flowering | April–June |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata): when to prune it?
After flowering, in June. Otherwise it needs hardly any pruning.
What else to prune in those months? June
Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata): how to prune it?
- Cut the faded flower stems back to just above the foliage or the creeping shoots.
- Leave the low, non-flowering shoots: next spring’s flower stems grow from them.
- In March, remove dead stems or stems damaged by winter.
- Cut out stems with powdery mildew straight away and put them in the household waste, not on the compost heap.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: June.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) flowers in April–June, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
Caution: Do not cut it right down in autumn: the flower stems grow in spring from the shoots that overwinter.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Moss phlox
- Arends' phlox (Phlox × arendsii)
- Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
- Douglas' phlox (Phlox douglasii)
- Meadow phlox (Phlox maculata)
Plant profile: Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.