The Perennial Plant Association has chosen Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ as the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2024. ‘Jeana’ is an exceptional garden phlox renowned for its impressive flower show, tall sturdy habit and pollinator-friendliness. Dense, domed trusses crown stiff stems from midsummer to early autumn.
Individually, the fragrant lavender-pink flowers are significantly smaller than typical garden phlox – only about half an inch wide – but the show at peak is eye-popping nonetheless. This is a case where bigger is not better (at least from a pollinator’s perspective).
In trials at Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware, the nectar-rich flowers of ‘Jeana’ attracted more butterflies – eastern tiger swallowtails were especially plentiful – than any other garden phlox in their study. Hummingbirds and other pollinators are fans too.
Topped with flowers, ‘Jeana’ can reach five feet tall and four feet wide, although size will vary geographically. Its bright green leaves are highly resistant to powdery mildew, so ‘Jeana’ has a striking summer look with or without flowers.
Tall garden phlox provide structure and color in summer gardens and are good bridging plants between early and later flowering perennials. ‘Jeana’ is at home in traditional borders and meadows and is a natural in pollinator gardens. Mix ‘Jeana’ with other tall perennials such as bluestars (Amsonia), Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) and switchgrasses (Panicum virgatum). Or let its handsome foliage be the backdrop for shorter companions such as coneflowers (Echinacea), alliums and woodland sages (Salvia nemorosa).
For more details, go to https://perennialplant.org/page/2024PPOY.
Featured photo: Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ flowers. Photo courtesy of Saunders Brothers Inc.
