Phlox paniculata 'Red Riding Hood'

Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata ‘Red Riding Hood’ is a compact herbaceous perennial garden phlox with fragrant, vivid cherry-red to rose-red flower clusters held on sturdy upright stems. It blooms in mid to late summer and gives strong color without the taller, floppier habit of many older garden phlox. It works well in perennial borders, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, cutting gardens, and small-space plantings. Walters Gardens describes it as a compact variety with fragrant cherry-red flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 16–24 in. wide x 20–24 in. tall; may reach about 32 in. tall in trial conditions
USDA Zones: 4a–8b
Form: Compact upright clump
Light: Full sun to light shade; best flowering and disease resistance in full sun
Soil / Water: Rich, moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil; keep evenly moist and avoid drought stress
Bloom Time / Length: Mid to late summer; commonly July–August, about 4–6 weeks
Wildlife: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Features & Landscape Uses: Bright cherry-red flower color; fragrant blooms; compact habit; strong stems; useful for borders, massing, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, containers, and cut flowers. Great Lakes Landscape Supply lists it at about 20–24 in. tall and wide, with red flowers and butterfly/hummingbird appeal.

Care: Plant with good spacing for air circulation. Missouri Botanical Garden recommends full sun to light shade, rich moist organic soil, summer mulch, watering during dry spells, and avoiding overhead watering to help reduce powdery mildew problems. Mt. Cuba Center rated its powdery mildew resistance as poor in their trial, so this cultivar should be spaced well and monitored during humid summers. 

Plant type

Perennial

Height

20-24"

Width

12-18"

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Part shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Early Fall, Fall, Late Summer, Summer

Flower color

Red

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Soil

Humus rich, Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Border, Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Clump, Compact, Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No