Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Annual Phlox bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Annual Phlox, Drummond's Phlox, Texas Phlox, Pride of Texas (Phlox drummondii).
More about annual phlox
About Annual Phlox
Phlox drummondii · also called Annual Phlox, Drummond's Phlox · flowering
A Texas native annual that produces an abundant, long-lasting display of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, lavender, white, and bicolour from spring into early summer. It is easy to grow in any well-drained soil in full sun and is an excellent choice for containers, borders, and wildlife gardens. Cool-season bloomer that fades in high summer heat.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Summer heat collapse: Flowering declines sharply in temperatures above 30°C. Treat as a cool-season annual; start seeds early and allow plants to finish before midsummer heat arrives.
The reasons annual phlox isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming annual phlox traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding annual phlox a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get annual phlox to flower
- Maximise sun. Give annual phlox the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for annual phlox and get the feeding right with the annual phlox fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Annual Phlox flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full annual phlox care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Annual Phlox blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my annual phlox flower?
Annual Phlox blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make annual phlox bloom?
Give annual phlox the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does annual phlox normally bloom?
Annual Phlox flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with annual phlox after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping annual phlox flowering?
Feeding annual phlox a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Annual Phlox care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Annual Phlox light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Annual Phlox fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 2566 bloom guides in the Growli library