Tuesday, April 4, 2023

What's Blooming Kansas City - Magnolia and Phlox

 

 

Magnolia trees are glorious producers of springtime enticement.  Unfortunately 

more times than not I have witnessed the petals of their blossoms turning brown 

when near freezing temperatures enshroud the foliage. My newest neighbor was 

horrified when she first experienced her Magnolia being affected.  She thought 

her tree was going to die.  I assured her the tree would survive to bloom next year 

but to expect the same negatively looking impact as a possibility. In this region 

there are two native "Magnolias," of the magnolia family, the Cucumber tree, 

(Magnolia acuminata), and the Tulip tree, (Liriodendron tulipifera).

 

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Sand Phlox (Phlox bifida) is naturally found in dry or sandy areas, or on rock outcrops, and limestone glades.  The star-shaped flowers and clumping growing habit provides visual interest to this casual ground cover.

 

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Flower Form of Creeping Phlox. Photo by Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

More people are familiar with the widely available Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) that is extensively used as a ground cover. There are many colorful cultivars of this plant native to the eastern US. Considered to have a moderate to fast growth rate, it prefers good sun exposure.

 



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