Phlox C13

Nothing beats the attractiveness of garden phlox plants. These tall, showy perennials are ideal for sunny borders.
In addition, the large clusters of pink, purple, lavender or white flowers bloom for several weeks in summer and make excellent cut flowers. The cultivation of the hardy garden phlox is simple, as is its general care. 

Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), also called summer phlox, is a sun-loving perennial with a long flowering season. The large flower clusters, called panicles, sit atop stems that grow from 91 cm to 1 m tall. This wildflower is native to the United States.

Growing hardy garden phlox is a challenge in hot, humid areas because the plant is sensitive to powdery mildew. Watch for foliage that appears to have been dusted with talcum powder, and pinch off affected leaves. In severe cases, treat the plants with a fungicide. You can avoid powdery mildew by choosing varieties labelled 'powdery mildew resistant'.

Plant new garden phlox plants in early spring. Choose a sunny site with moist but well-drained soil. Add a little compost to the soil before planting if your soil does not manage water well. Give plants plenty of space, especially in warm, humid areas, where air circulation around the plant will help keep powdery mildew to a minimum. Use the space recommended on the plant label, which is usually 46 to 61 cm.

Fertilise with a light application of 10-10-10 fertiliser at planting time and again just before the flowers open. If you fertilise once more after the flowers fade, you can get another flush of flowers.

Water garden phlox plants weekly for the first few weeks and then often enough thereafter to keep the soil slightly moist. Keep the foliage as dry as possible by applying water to the soil. Spread a 5-7.5 cm layer of mulch around the plants to help the soil retain moisture.

Garden phlox care also includes trimming the flower stems after the flowers fade. This keeps the plants looking tidy and prevents the flowers from dropping seeds. Since garden phlox plants are usually hybrids, the seedlings resulting from the dropped seeds will not resemble the parent plants. 

For maximum height of garden phlox, trim the weakest stems from the plant when they are about 15 cm tall, leaving only five or six stems on the plant. Trim the tips of the remaining stems to encourage a tall, bushy growth habit.