It was undoubtedly one of my best planting decisions when I put Nora Leigh next to Laura.
Plants: Both are phlox paniculata, 'Laura' (on the left) and 'Nora Leigh'. Commonly called tall phlox or garden phlox, these both grow to about 3 feet. Each stalk wears a big bunch of small flat blooms on top, like a shower cap.
Conditions: Tall phlox thrives in full sun but will grow in partial shade. I've grown it in average garden soil and it does fine for me.
The down side: Powdery mildew, but it doesn't affect either of these as much as some others.
Why I like them: Where do I start? The heavenly scent overcomes me whenever I walk out back in August - I have 13 varieties. The masses of bright colours bloom over a long period. These two in particular provide a nice contrast side-by-side. Some phlox are like chameleon, changing colour depending on time of day and temperature. Laura changes from bright fushia to mauve to dark purple. Nora Leigh's blooms are a little smaller but she makes up for it with striking green and cream foliage.
Provided we labeled everything right, this pair should be repeated in my garden next year beside Marilyn's rose.
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