Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

8-10 Inches

Mature Spread

14-18 Inches

Container Role ?

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What does this mean?

This shows how the plant is typically used in a container combo — Thriller (tall focal point), Filler (mid-height mass), or Spiller (trailing over the edge).

Tip: match plant habit to the role for the best designs.

Filler

Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox is the scarlet spiller that doesn’t stall when summer turns brutal. Jamesbrittenia hybrid ‘INJAMLAVFL’ grows 6–12 inches tall and spreads 12–24 inches, forming a mounded, trailing plant that quickly drapes over pot edges and fills gaps in sunny beds. The blooms come in hot scarlet red with warm centers and continue from planting to frost. We’ve used it in full-sun container trials where bacopa quit early, and this one kept the pot looking freshly planted.

The foliage stays green and dense enough to hide stems, so the color looks like a continuous pour instead of scattered dots. No deadheading. Just more flowers. Use it to spill from hanging baskets, trail from window boxes, or soften the front edge of a border with a red ribbon that doesn’t creep out of bounds. It also plays well in combination planters where you need a reliable connector between upright plants. 

Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox Care

Jamesbrittenia hybrid ‘INJAMLAVFL’ needs part sun to full sun for best flowering, with 4–6+ hours of direct light. Plant in a fast-draining mix or garden soil that doesn’t stay wet, aiming for a pH around 6.0–7.0. Set plants at the same depth they were in the pot and water in to settle roots. Water when the top inch has dried, then soak thoroughly and let excess drain—constant saturation is the quickest way to slow it down. At planting, mix in a controlled-release fertilizer; in containers, follow with a water-soluble feed every 1–2 weeks once the plant is growing strongly.

If the plant starts to look a bit open later in the season, shear it back by up to one-third. A week later it’s usually pushing fresh growth and new buds again. In warm climates it can overwinter, but most gardeners enjoy it as a long-season annual.

Safari® Lava Flow South African Phlox Spacing

Space plants 6–12 inches apart, closer for fast coverage and farther for individual mounds. For containers, start with a 10–12 inch pot for one plant, or use a 14–16 inch basket if you want it paired with companions. Combine it with fan flower (Scaevola aemula), angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia), and sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) for a sun-ready mix that keeps color and texture going through heat.

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