best phlox for gardeners and butterflies, with mt. cuba’s george coombs

George Coombs managed the Trial Gardens at Mt. Cuba Center native plant garden and research facility in Delaware. In past conversations, George–who in 2019 was promoted to Mt. Cuba’s Director of Horticulture–has helped me make our way through the daunting selections of Heuchera, Monarda, and Baptisia. George and the trial garden team spent three years evaluating 94 different sun-loving selections of Phlox for eye and butterfly appeal and mildew resistance, plus 43 shade-garden choices, too.  

Read along as you listen to the February 26, 2018 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).

Q. Whenever one of your reports arrives I feel very lucky to get it, because it’s such a good read all the time. Do you write them—do you write up the summary report? They’re great.

A. I do write them, yes. They’re a lot of work but they always turn out really well.

Q. It’s like a whole reference book. They’re wonderful (and people can read them online). I have to confess George, I didn’t even know that the genus Phlox had so many species in it. I only knew the ones we commonly use in gardens. Tell us just a little bit about the genus and how you decided what to focus on.

A. Yes. Well the main reason we wanted to trial Phlox was really to look at Phlox paniculata,