Cotton Candy™ Phlox

Phlox paniculata 'Ditomfav'

First Editions®

Bi-Color Light Purple-Pink Blooms with Sweet Scent and Darker Pink Center
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 3-8
Grows 24 ft Tall and Wide
Showy Purple, Pink Blooms From Late Summer to Early Fall
Native, Pollinator-Friendly - Attracts Bees and Butterflies

$34⁹⁹

Shipping calculated at checkout.

In Stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This Phlox performs best in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct light daily. While it tolerates partial shade, you will notice fewer flowers and a higher risk of powdery mildew if it stays too damp or dark.
Soil: Aim for rich, organic soil that drains as well as a strained colander. If you have heavy clay, mix in compost or aged arborist chips to create air pockets so the roots do not suffocate in standing water.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water deeply twice a week to ensure the root ball settles into its new home. Once established, this variety is moderately drought tolerant, but inconsistent moisture during high heat will cause the lower leaves to crisp and turn brown. To keep the pink blooms vibrant and the foliage lush, provide about an inch of water per week at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves.

Pruning Tips

Cotton Candy Phlox blooms on new wood, so the best time to prune is in early spring just as new growth emerges. Think of it like a seasonal refresh; cutting the dead stems back to the ground allows the plant to channel all its energy into strong, flowering stalks. For a second flush of color in late summer, snip off faded flower heads before they go to seed.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer or a thin layer of compost in early spring when you see the first green shoots. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, as this encourages soft, leafy growth that is easily damaged by the first frost. Stick to a formula with a higher middle number, like a 10-30-10, to prioritize those signature cotton candy blooms over excess foliage.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Flowering, Fragrant, Disease resistant, Native, Attracts pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Container Friendly, Non-invasive
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	24 ft
Width	24 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Upright
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Fall, Summer
Flower Color	Purple, Pink
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Native	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Phlox
Botanical Name	Phlox paniculata 'Ditomfav'
Species	paniculata
Cultivar	Ditomfav
Class	Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Prolific charmer, Everyone wants dazzling flowers that last and last! Nature Hills is thrilled to offer the feature-laden good looks of First Editions® Cotton Candy™ Phlox (Phlox paniculata 'Ditomfav' PP21,369). One of the Candy Store® series of Tall Garden Phlox, you'll love their tender, light purple-pink flowers that feature a sweet scent and pretty pink center.

This is a compact garden plant that requires very little effort! Achieving superior, summer-long blooms is well within reach, thanks to the help of modern cultivars! Show off your style with these long-blooming plants! Both new gardeners and savvy ones with years of experience can make the most of their summertime fun with help from Cotton Candy™ Phlox.

First Editions® Cotton Candy™ Phlox is a well-branched, green lance-leafed, compact perennial that makes a lovely showing in your landscape. The dazzling display of flowers begins to bloom in early summer and keeps your interest long into fall. Look closely to study their clear, lavender-pink petals accented with white and dark pink eye.

Plant plenty to cut for fragrant indoor arrangements. Don't forget to add cuttings of the dense, lance-shaped, emerald-green foliage to help the massed flowers "pop" in the vase. With proper care and planting site selection, they'll come back for you year after year. Count on Cotton Candy™ to produce generous bouquets of blossoms throughout your entire summer.

Local butterflies and hummingbirds will come to visit your yard all season. Feel great about this nectar-rich ecological resource to support the critical beneficial pollinators in your area!

These cultivars are a leap ahead of old-fashioned Tall Garden Phlox! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 8, these herbaceous perennials grow 18-24 inches in height when in bloom, and can spread into tidy clumps 18 inches wide!

Planting and Application:

Grow Cotton Candy™ in the ground, or keep them in outdoor containers for a happy, cheerful look. Use in an oversized container as a terrific "Filler" to amplify the impact of a dramatic shrub or tiny tree. Or, keep them as a single species container to "Thrill" you with their gorgeous color and delight you with their fragrance. They look great in flower boxes and vertical planters, too!

Cotton Candy™ is a great mixer! Working beautifully with other prairie-style perennials in shades from warm to cool. Whether you want to relax in a sleek, streamlined space or cram flowers upon flowers in a very personal Cottage Garden, there is always room for these prolific bloomers. Landscaping on older homes often needs a little refresh. Count of First Editions® Cotton Candy™ Phlox to revive the look, without any stress on your part.

Gift yourself a bright burst of color on a pocket-sized lot, urban courtyard, or a tiny but sunny balcony, porch, and patio. Cotton Candy™ Phlox works hard all summer long. It more than earns a place in a small space!

These are hard-working plants to use and reuse throughout your landscaping! This easy trick ties the look of your entire design together. Run a row of them to polish up the edges of your borders. Or, integrate them throughout the front end of your planting design for fresh fragrance and a pretty floral presentation.

Add charm and color the easy way! Line your front walk or underplant the south side of your foundation shrubs. Plant several of them on either side of your front door. Reclaim some of your front lawn with a mixed planting island bed.

In the backyard, create a showpiece for your neighborhood with plenty of flowering plants that offer color from spring through fall. Another intriguing way gardeners are maximizing the impact of their property is to create a welcome "getaway" destination in their lot. Use Candy Store® series Cotton Candy™ Phlox as a fragrant draw to your new outdoor room.

Lavish Lavender Petals With Pink Eyes - Feature Many Clustered Flowers
Reliable Summer Performance - Flower Power for Months!
You'll Love the Sweet Scent
Beautifully Compact & Well-Branched Form
Magnet for Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Stunning Cut Flower Arrangements
Outdoor Containers, Garden Beds & Borders & Specimens
Listed on Firewise Lists for Defensible Space Gardening

#ProPlantTips for Care:

With proper care and planting site selection, they'll come back for you year after year and Phlox are perfect for the beginner gardener. For the best performance, give this sun-loving perennial a planting site with at least six hours of sun a day. Plant them in well-drained soil. Improve your drainage with a raised bed. You can also consider soggy soil to be a good sign that you need to create a special container garden, raised up on bricks to allow water to drain quickly. They appreciate regular water on a consistent schedule. If you are keeping your Tall Garden Phlox in containers, don't let them dry out.

Apply a 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the root system to cut down on surface evaporation and enrich the soil but pull it away from directly touching the stems. Prune Phlox late in the season back down to the ground since these perennials die back anyway. Too busy? Don't worry, this easy task can be done in late winter or early spring, too.

Modern plant scientists have developed incredible disease resistance with a program of very careful selection over many years. You'll be amazed at the high performance and powdery mildew-resistant foliage of the desirable First Editions® Cotton Candy™ Phlox. Deadhead immediately after the flowers fade and you may just enjoy a rebloom later in the growing season!

Just getting started? These plants come back for you and offer value for your money! Divide your clumps every few years and enjoy increased vigor - and free plants to extend your Phlox enjoyment in your landscape!

Best in Full Sun
Well-Drained Enriched Soil
Moderate Yet Consistent Moisture Needs
Appreciates Mulched Beds
Prune Late Fall/Winter
Tolerates Extreme Cold
Resists Powdery Mildew & Disease

With great form, long-lasting flowers, and healthy high performance, don't miss our limited inventory! People go bananas for the sweet First Ediitions® Candy Store® series Cotton Candy™ Tall Garden Phlox, so order yours today at Nature Hills!

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Cotton Candy™ Phlox suitable for?

Cotton Candy™ Phlox thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8. This herbaceous perennial will reliably return each year across this wide range, from cold northern regions to moderate southern climates. Plant in well-draining soil with good air circulation for best results.

What is the mature height and width of Cotton Candy™ Phlox?

Cotton Candy™ Phlox reaches 18-24 inches tall and spreads 18 inches wide when mature. This compact perennial forms tidy clumps that work well in borders or containers. Plan spacing accordingly when you shop at Nature Hills for the best garden display.

Does Cotton Candy™ Phlox resist powdery mildew and other diseases?

Cotton Candy™ Phlox features improved disease resistance compared to older garden phlox varieties. This First Editions® cultivar is bred for better health and vigor in zones 3-8. Ensure good air circulation around the 18-24 inch plants and avoid overhead watering to minimize any disease issues.

What are the soil and light requirements for planting Cotton Candy™ Phlox?

Cotton Candy™ Phlox thrives in full sun to partial shade with well-draining, fertile soil. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, it prefers consistent moisture but not waterlogged conditions. Plant in spring after frost danger passes for best establishment.

How do I care for Cotton Candy™ Phlox, including watering and fertilizing?

Cotton Candy™ Phlox thrives in zones 3-8 with consistent moisture and good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Water at soil level rather than overhead, and apply balanced fertilizer in early spring. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering through fall - shop at Nature Hills for this low-maintenance perennial.

Cotton Candy™ Phlox

Phlox paniculata 'Ditomfav'