The Purple Perennial You Can Plant In November For Beautiful Spring Blooms

Fall and winter can be a wonderfully relaxing time for gardeners, but it can also be a time to get those last-minute plantings in. In many USDA Hardiness Zones, November is the ideal time to plant spring-blooming perennials. The soil isn't frozen yet, the weather isn't too harsh, and the first hard freeze usually hasn't happened yet. That's why now's the best time to get some woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) planted. Planting this perennial now gives the roots time to establish before winter, allowing the plant to focus on blooming at the first signs of spring.

If you've been looking for a purple perennial to plant this fall, woodland phlox is a great shade-loving option. Many of the perennials you can plant in November for a luscious spring garden require full to partial sun. Woodland phlox thrives in woodsy settings, making it a great option for filling areas where other plants struggle. Their adorable purplish-blue blooms are the perfect supporting actor to the showier flowers in your garden. Often confused with creeping phlox, woodland phlox tends to be a slightly taller variety of the phlox family. They have a slow creeping or spreading nature, which means they will take up the space along the edge of your garden nicely and fill in areas for a fuller look.

If you've decided woodland phlox will be the perfect purple addition to your spring flower garden, there are a few things you should know if you're planting this November. You can grow woodland phlox successfully if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8. They prefer moist, well-draining soil, and of course, partial to full shade. Caring for woodland phlox flowers is slightly easier than caring for other phlox varieties because it has less demanding light needs. But it might have some issues to look out for. Because they grow in shady areas, they can be more susceptible to powdery mildew. You can help manage this issue by removing spent blossoms as soon as you notice them.

Woodland phlox work well as a transition between main garden beds and the borders of your yard. You can use them to create a lovely wall behind other shade-loving plants like hostas or ferns. They can also be paired with other spring flowers like tulips or daffodils. If you have a wooded area on your property, these are the perfect way to add a bit of whimsy and color. Woodland phlox could also be the perfect companion for creeping phlox to create a tiered effect in your yard, as they can get up to just over a foot tall at maturity.

November is the perfect time to plant woodland phlox for spring flowers. And it might also be the perfect way to de-stress and prepare yourself for the hurriedness of the upcoming holiday season.