For several years I’ve been trying to grow Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata) in my garden. It is a beautiful early spring bloomer that is native to much of the eastern half of the U.S. But most of my yard is nicknamed “the pizza oven” because with it’s southern to southwest exposure, it gets full sun for most of the day. I tried to tuck it in and around taller growing plants, but Woodland phlox is one of the first flowers to bloom in early spring, and very few of the other plants have would have grown enough by the time it blooms to make any difference.

So last year I realized my Japanese maple tree had grown enough to perhaps tuck some of these flowers underneath to give them a fighting chance. I didn’t expect much but went ahead and planted a few plants last year with fingers crossed they’d reemerge in early spring and bloom.

And they did! This is the first year I’ve gotten Woodland phlox to come back stronger than the year before and BLOOM. Look at those beautiful blue to lavender hues!

In case you’re wondering, Woodland phlox is also known as Wild blue phlox and as one of its common name implies, it grows wild in shade and partial shade areas of deciduous forests.