perennial

Garden phlox 'David'

Phlox paniculata 'David'

Preview: plant data is awaiting horticulturist review. A professional horticulturist hasn't reviewed our plant table yet. Lists still follow fixed rules for zone, sun, pets, deer and invasive status.

Garden phlox 'David' is a perennial hardy in zones 4–8. It grows 3–4 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide, so plant it 2 ft apart. Give it full sun to part sun and average water. It flowers white in July to September. In a FloraVista list it usually plays the filler role: a flowering plant that fills the middle or front of the bed. Deer do eat it, and it is not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Our rules leave it out of lists in Florida and the Gulf and the Desert Southwest, where summer heat, humidity or mild winters hold it back even inside its zone range.

Facts from our plant table

Botanical name: Phlox paniculata 'David'
Plant type: Perennial, herbaceous
Hardiness zones: 4 to 8
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours); Part sun (4–6 hours)
Water: Medium
Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained soil; good air flow.
Mature size: 3–4 ft tall × 2–3 ft wide
Spacing: 2 ft apart (centre to centre)
Growth rate: Medium
Bloom: Jul–Sep · white
Roles in a bed: Filler
Styles: cottage, classic
Deer resistance: Low: deer eat it
Pets: Not listed as toxic to dogs or cats. Phlox is reported non-toxic; ASPCA lists moss phlox as non-toxic.
Native to: Not native to the US (or a garden hybrid)
Pot size and price: 1-gallon pot, typically $12–$20 (easy to find)
Plant in: Spring or Fall
First-year watering: Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season; keep soil evenly moist, not soggy.
Pruning: Deadhead for side blooms; thin to 4–5 stems per clump for air flow.

Sources: ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (from general knowledge; not re-checked unless verification is web-checked); Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder and grower tags; State extension service guidance and USDA PLANTS distribution maps; Rutgers NJAES Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance; Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and state noxious weed lists; Typical 2026 US garden-centre and big-box retail listings (estimate). Not yet reviewed by a horticulturist.

Guides that include this plant

Dog-safe plants for a full-sun bed in zone 5 (as a substitute)
What to plant in a full-sun bed in zone 5 (as a substitute)
Cottage garden plants for a sunny bed in zone 5 (as a substitute)
Cottage garden plants for a sunny bed in zone 7 (as a substitute)

Good companions

The plants our list engine most often puts in the same bed as Garden phlox 'David', across the sun, zone, pet, deer and style combinations it fits.

If you can't find it

Substitutes our engine offers for Garden phlox 'David': same role in the bed, passing the same rules. Some of them are flagged toxic to dogs or cats: check the pet note before you swap.

How this page was made

This page was generated from this plant's record in FloraVista's plant table by fixed rules. The companions and substitutes come from the lists our rules engine composes. No named expert has reviewed this page.

Data status: the plant table is awaiting review by a horticulturist. Check each plant with a local nursery or extension office before you buy.

Sources

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, state extension services and the USDA PLANTS database (zones, size, sun, water, bloom, native range)
ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists (dog and cat toxicity)
Rutgers NJAES and regional extension deer-resistance ratings
State noxious-weed and invasive-plant lists and the Invasive Plant Atlas of the US
Typical US garden-centre listings (pot size and price band)

Generated November 12, 2026. How FloraVista chooses plants