Phlox paniculata Lord Clayton

Jewel toned blooms and deep purple foliage make a royal combination. This new selection comes to us from garden writer, designer and budding blogger, Tammy Clayton from Michigan. Tammy discovered this new selection in her garden. Once she saw the color, she knew it was garden royalty, hence the name ‘Lord Clayton’. With its deep purple foliage and lime green veins, this plant is gorgeous as soon as it emerges in spring. The brightly colored, cherry-red blooms unfurl in late June and continue to be the jester to any garden court through July and into early August. As the foliage matures, it transforms from deep purple to greenish-purple, still retaining the hint of lime that makes it so exciting.

I must thank Tim McGinty, the GM at North Creek Nurseries for saving the tiny little peat pot I received from Tammy in the fall of 2006. I had faith in Tim, and he didn’t let me down. Tim not only saved it but he propagated it and planted it in the trial gardens at North Creek . Tim and his staff fell in love with the plant and decided to add it to their catalog after it made it through 2 summers with great tolerance to powdery mildew.