How to Grow Phlox 'Blushing Princess'
Wikimedia Commons
Phlox 'Blushing Princess'
Phlox paniculata 'Blushing Princess'
flowerPhlox 'Blushing Princess' is a cultivar of garden phlox featuring pale pink flowers with a deeper pink or magenta center eye, creating a charming bicolor effect. This herbaceous perennial grows 24-30 inches tall and produces fragrant, five-petaled blooms in summer that attract pollinators. It is valued for its showy flowers and reliable garden performance.
When should you plant Phlox 'Blushing Princess' in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Phlox 'Blushing Princess' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Phlox 'Blushing Princess'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Phlox 'Blushing Princess' blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Phlox 'Blushing Princess' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8; best in cooler to moderate climates
Sign up free to see if Phlox 'Blushing Princess' grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Phlox 'Blushing Princess' timeline →Growth Stages
Emergence & Early Growth
4-6 weeks from plantingYoung plants develop basal foliage with narrow, lance-shaped green leaves. Growth is vegetative with no flower buds visible.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to proper spacing if direct-seeding. Stake taller varieties early if needed.
Vegetative/Leafy Growth
6-8 weeksPlants fill out, developing a sturdy mounding form with dense foliage. Stems elongate and lateral branches form.
Pinch back stem tips in early summer (before mid-June) to encourage bushier, more branched plants with more flower clusters. Fertilize with balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
Budding & Early Bloom
2-3 weeksTerminal flower buds form and begin to open. Flowers open from bottom to top on the panicle, revealing the characteristic pale pink petals with magenta center eye.
Maintain consistent moisture; drought stress can reduce bloom quality. Deadhead lower spent florets to encourage continuous blooming. Support tall stems with stakes if necessary.
Peak Flowering
4-6 weeksLarge, fragrant flower panicles in full bloom cover the upper portion of plants. The bicolor flowers create a striking display.
Deadhead spent flower clusters to extend bloom time and prevent self-seeding. Continue watering at soil level. Cut flowers last 7-10 days in a vase.
Post-Bloom & Senescence
Until frostFlowers fade and fall; seed pods form if flowers are not deadheaded. Foliage remains green through fall.
Leave some spent flowers if you want self-seeding; otherwise, deadhead all flowers. Reduce watering slightly as temperatures cool. Cut back to ground level in late fall or early spring before new growth.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Improve air circulation, water at soil level only, avoid overhead watering. Remove affected foliage. Apply sulfur dust or fungicide if severe. Space plants adequately.
-
Increase humidity by misting soil around plants (not foliage). Spray with water or miticide if infestation is heavy. Neem oil or horticultural soap effective.
-
Remove and destroy infested stems. Monitor for wilting of individual shoots. Apply insecticide in early summer if borers are a recurring problem.
-
Spray with strong stream of water to dislodge. Use neem oil, insecticidal soap, or horticultural spray if population is large.
-
and
Hand-pick in early morning or evening. Use copper tape barriers or slugbait. Remove leaf debris where they hide.
Uses
Garnish
CulinaryPhlox flowers are edible and can be used as a delicate garnish for salads, desserts, and beverages, adding a slightly sweet, floral flavor and attractive bicolor appearance to dishes. [source]
Cut flowers & floral arrangements
CraftThe fragrant, long-lasting blooms make excellent cut flowers for summer bouquets, vase arrangements, and cottage-style floral designs. Flowers last 7-10 days in water. [source]
Pollinator garden
WildlifePhlox flowers are highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making them an excellent choice for pollinator gardens and supporting beneficial insect populations. [source]
Fragrance & ornamental interest
HouseholdThe sweet fragrance of phlox flowers fills the summer garden with a delightful scent, and the striking bicolor blooms of 'Blushing Princess' provide eye-catching ornamental interest in landscape beds and borders. [source]
Traditional herbal use
MedicinalHistorically, phlox has been used in traditional herbalism for its mild sedative and anti-inflammatory properties, though modern scientific support is limited and use should be pursued with caution. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Cut stems for fresh flowers in the early morning when buds are just beginning to open, using sharp pruners. Cut stems at a 45-degree angle just above a leaf node. Remove lower leaves from cut stems before placing in water. Phlox blooms typically from mid-July through September, with peak flowering in August. Regular deadheading of spent blooms extends the flowering season by 2-4 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'Phlox' comes from the Greek word 'phlox' meaning 'flame,' referring to the bright, fiery-looking flowers of wild species.
- 🌱 Phlox flowers are one of the most fragrant garden flowers; their sweet scent intensifies in the evening to attract night-flying moths and other pollinators.
- 🌱 'Blushing Princess' produces self-seeds readily, so seedlings often appear in surrounding areas the following season—a delightful way to naturalize the cultivar in informal gardens.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Phlox 'Blushing Princess' planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Phlox 'Blushing Princess' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Phlox 'Blushing Princess' timeline →