This outstanding selection of Phlox paniculata gets rave reviews for its mildew resistance, distinctive flowers, and pollinator appeal. Named as the 2024 Perennial Plant of the Year® by the Perennial Plant Association, it also captured the highest ratings in Mt. Cuba Center's Phlox trials:
"Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is, without a doubt, the best-performing phlox from the trial. This cultivar was discovered growing along the Harpeth River near Nashville, Tennessee and named after its discoverer, Jeana Prewitt. Although there were many plants of Phlox paniculata in the area, ‘Jeana’ in particular stood out for its exceptionally mildew-free foliage. This trait carries through to the garden and is one of the main reasons ‘Jeana’ performed so well in the trial. This 5′ tall beauty also produces an impressive floral display from mid-July through early September. Interestingly, the individual flowers, or pips, are much smaller than any other garden phlox. However, that does not deter the butterflies that feed on its nectar. In fact, we found ‘Jeana’ attracted more butterflies than any other garden phlox in the entire trial. With a top rank in both horticultural and ecological evaluations, Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is hard to beat." -- Mt. Cuba Center
Phlox paniculata 'Jeana' was selected from a naturally occurring variation. It has shown to have the highest resistance to powdery mildew of all cultivars of the species, and to the species itself. It is easy to grow in average, moist, well-drained soil. It does best in full sun, but will tolerate filtered light and part-shade but at the risk of developing weak stems that would require support. In hot climates, 'Jeana' appreciates a little afternoon shade. Like other Phlox paniculata, it can be pinched or cut back by one-third to one-half in early spring to reduce height. It will delay flowering by a few weeks and result in smaller, but more numerous, flower clusters. It's resistant to powdery mildew, but providing good air circulation is always a good idea. According the Perennial Plant Association, it's best to divide clumps every 3-5 years in spring. They also suggest deadheading to promote continued bloom and prevent self-seeding, which can produce seedlings that differ from the parent.
Space plants 18" on center.
'Jeana' tends to be upright unless sited in shade (where it may flop over), so giving 18" on center will have mature plants touching but not crowded.
Phlox 'Jeana' works beautifully and functionally with Amsonia tabernaemontana (eastern bluestar), Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower) or Rudbeckia triloba (browneyed Susan), Solidago rugosa (wrinkleleaf goldenrod), Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's root), Sorghastrum nutans (indiangrass), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Carex amphibola (eastern narrowleaf sedge), Heliopsis helianthoides (smooth oxeye), and Eutrochium (Joe-Pye weed).
Phlox paniculata 'Jeana' was discovered by Jeana Prewitt along the Harpeth River in Nashville, Tennessee, and introduced by North Creek Nurseries. It's a big buffet for pollinators, attracting swallowtail butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, sphinx moths, and hummingbirds, among others.
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Sizes info
Shipping is free on all plants orders!
Your plants will ship using each grower’s preferred method: FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, or Spee-Dee Ground (in select midwestern states). Our growers ship orders Monday through Wednesday. The farther your plants need to travel, the earlier in the week they will ship. The goal is to have all plants delivered by the end of the week.
Shipping plugs:
Plugs are shipped in full flats, sometimes also referred to as trays. Multiple flats can be shipped in a single box. The flats are wrapped in netting or craft paper to secure the plants, and spacers are used between flats to keep the plants from being crushed.
When you unpack your plugs, the plants will have been somewhat flattened by the netting or craft paper. They will straighten out within a couple of days. You may also gently “fluff” them a bit to speed up the process. In some cases, your plants might have been cut back before packing, if the grower deemed them to have become too tall for safe packaging. Don’t worry, though, these guys know what they’re doing and would not compromise the health of the plants. They’ll fill back in in no time.
After receiving your plants’ journey in a dark box, it will be important to acclimate them to sunlight again. Over a couple of days, you should gradually move them into their preferred light exposure, and water them as per their requirement.
Although we always recommend putting your plants in the ground as soon as possible, they can stay healthy in the flats for a considerable amount of time. The key is to respect their growing requirements: if the species requires full sun, do not store them in the shade. If it is best adapted to dry soil, do not over-water.
Planting plugs:
We consider plugs ready to ship when the plants’ roots have filled the entire liner cell and the plants can easily be pulled out. In some cases you will have to go about it gently, wiggling the plant by the crown, and possibly squeezing the bottom of the liner to compress the growing medium and release the roots. Other times, the plants will appear to be root bound. They are not in the traditional sense. The plants are healthy but they have used up all the growing medium available to them. Plugs are at an aggressive stage of growth. As soon as planted the roots will immediately expand into your native soil. They establish faster than plants in larger containers, because they don’t have the luxury of a lot of growing media that can inhibit the roots from venturing outside of their comfort zone.
We are not going to address area preparation because the process can be complex and is always site-specific. However, as a rule, we recommend disturbing the soil as little as possible, and we do not recommend amending the soil. If you chose the right plant for the right conditions they will thrive. Any disturbance and amendments will only encourage weeds to emerge that never had a chance to do so before.
Installing plugs cannot be easier: dig a hole large enough for the roots to fit snugly inside, then water them in to eliminate air gaps. We recommend using a soil knife, sometimes referred to as hori hori, or a drill-adapted auger if it’s a large installation. If you use an auger, you will need a powerful drill. Depending on the size of the project and the type of soil, the process can be beyond what an average drill will bear. Mulching is recommended after installation to help keep weeds down while the plants establish. Be sure to keep it away from the crown of the plants. For large projects, you may want to mulch the area before planting, rather than tiptoeing through it after the fact. As a side note: if you are installing plugs in the fall, you might want to plant them so that the crown is about ¾” lower than the surrounding soil. The winter’s freeze/thaw cycles can push plugs out if the roots did not have enough time to establish and anchor them in.