Phlox paniculata: varieties, planting and care

Perennial paniculata phlox, or phlox paniculata, is a tall-stemmed plant with a height of 40 centimeters to 1.5 m. The plant begins to bloom in the summer and continues to throw flowers until autumn. According to the description, the colors can be very diverse - white, yellow, pink, red, lilac, purple, salmon and others. The petals can be solid or a combination of two shades. Flowering is not simultaneous, which allows the plant to stay in full bloom for a long time, pleasing the eye and decorating the flower bed.

Biological features of phlox paniculata

After flowering, seed pods form in place of the panicle. When the seed is fully ripe, first the leaves, and then the stems, begin to turn yellow and dry out. By the onset of winter, the aboveground part of the plant dies.

Orange Perfection variety

Varieties of paniculate phlox

Today, thanks to the selection work, the paniculate varieties of phlox are distinguished by the most diverse colors and sizes of flowers. Some of them are particularly attractive and large in size.

Blue phlox look unusual, such as the Blue Boy variety, which has an increased winter hardiness and a high reproductive rate. The variety is medium in height.

The Gzhel variety is also distinguished by its delightful blue color. It is not characterized by a monochromatic color of each petal, but a smooth transition from a lighter blue hue to a more saturated one.

Genius variety

The Droplet variety has blue-lilac shades of large flowers.

For those who want a bright orange or salmon shade of the flower, it is recommended to choose a type such as: Watermelon or Orange Perfection.

Snow-white flowers, collected in very dense clusters of inflorescences near phlox paniculata - Tiara.

Phlox Paniculata can have original colors. Such varieties look elegant and spectacular.

If you want to get a variant of the bicolor type, that is, combining two colors, then you should pay attention to the varieties:

• Peppermint Twist - its petals are white, with a pink stripe in the middle, running from center to edge;
• the Europa variety has white petals, but the center of the flower is pink - it looks like a peephole.

Phlox variety Europe

Phlox paniculata variegated (Phlox paniculata Variegata)

The variegated phlox has colored greens, combining not only shades of green (from the lightest to the darkest), but also white or milky spots, scattered, as a rule, along the edge of the leaf plate.

The use of phlox paniculata in landscape design

A variety of varieties, colors and shapes of inflorescences and flowers in phlox allows you to choose it for almost any landscape compositions. Another spectacular highlight of this plant is a fairly long flowering.

Phlox are used in the formation of flower beds, landscape slides, curbs, mixboards, edging paths, arrays on lawns.

Despite this multifunctionality of the plant, it is necessary to take into account its certain features:

• such plants should be selected in the composition, which will replace each other in flowering. Daylily and large hosta are perfectly combined with phlox;
• if the site is elevated or is a slide, it is better to choose undersized varieties;
• well-lit areas should be selected, since the flowers of the plant are demanding on the abundance of sunlight.

Phlox in landscape design

What you need to know about phlox breeding

This plant is capable of multiplying in several ways. In addition to seeds, it can produce offspring by cuttings or division of the rhizome.

Reproduction of phlox by cuttings

Cuttings can be carried out year-round, as long as there is a stem-like part of the plant.

Both roots and stems and leaves are suitable for this process.

Cutting with leaves is best done in the first half of summer. For stem cuttings, strong stems are chosen, without signs of disease damage. Take only the part that did not have time to stiffen. Each handle should have two nodal parts. The lower leaves must be removed without touching the bud. The upper ones should be cut in half to reduce moisture loss.

Reproduction of paniculate phlox by dividing the rhizome

With this method, it is necessary to remove the bush from the ground. Divide it into separate parts, while choosing only strong rhizomes. Further, the roots must be divided into parts about 5 cm so that thin antennae of the roots remain at the lower end.

Further, for both breeding options, it is necessary:

• prepare a box with soil or a suitable area in an open area;
• plant cuttings or rhizomes in well-moistened soil, having previously made holes in it with a thick peg according to the 8 by 8 cm pattern;
• sprinkle with sand on top;
• moisten the top again;
• It is advisable to plant cuttings with roots in a separate container and only then plant them in open ground in the spring, when they take root well enough.

Choosing a place and soil for planting

Since phlox is a "chameleon", first of all it is necessary to take into account the landing site. After all, flowers can change color depending on the amount of sunlight. You should immediately choose areas that do not have natural or artificial shade.

Plants will also respond well to slightly damp soil. You should not choose a place with a high occurrence of groundwater, because a powerful root system in this case will rot all the time.

Landing in a permanent place

Often, planting material is bought in special nurseries. It is sold in special containers or plastic bags. In this case, the rhizomes are divided and have a small earth lump on them.

Such planting material can be planted in open ground by adding a mixture of sawdust and peat in early spring.

Another method of planting phlox is available - seeds. In open ground, seed is sown in the fall.

How to properly care for phlox

The plant is unassuming, therefore it will not cause trouble for its owner, but it will still require compliance with the minimum keeping conditions.

Pruning and garter

Before the plant survives the winter, it must be properly pruned. Shoots are shortened as much as possible, leaving only a couple of centimeters above the ground. In this case, fungi and various bacterial infections do not accumulate between two adjacent shoots. In this case, the mulching process becomes more comfortable and efficient.

Flux pruning

How to prepare a plant for wintering

In order for the phlox to survive the winter, it must be cut as short as possible, leaving no more than 5 cm above the ground. Cover with mulch, making the layer dense enough. Fertilizers can also be added to the mulch, so the plant will overwinter even better and in the spring it will immediately please with abundant growth.

Priming

Phlox grows on almost any soil, except for marshy and very poor in nutrients.

Therefore, in order to ensure the correct growth of the flower, not very nutritious soils should simply be fertilized with organic matter and periodically applied the correct types of dressings.
As for watering, it should be optimal - to prevent stagnation of moisture in the soil, but, at the same time, not to dry out the soil.

Top dressing

In order for the soil to be as suitable as possible for the growth of the plant, it should be applied twice during the season of intense vegetation and flowering.

Nitrogen is used in the spring. It is introduced into the soil as watering, as soon as the shoots rise 10 cm above the soil. To do this, dilute 1 tablespoon of urea into 10 liters of water.
Before the phlox throws out the buds, humus should be added to the soil in combination with ash and mineral complex fertilizers.

Top dressing of paniculate flux

As soon as all the stems are cut in the fall, you need to mulch with organic matter and ash. As you can see from all of the above, phlox care is quite simple.

But it must be borne in mind that there are also plant diseases.

Diseases and pests

Most often, this horticultural crop is attacked by:

• stem nematode;
• mycoplasma;
• viruses;
• powdery mildew;
• variegated viruses.

For powdery mildew and fungi, it is worth treating the planting with copper sulfate, fungicide or tincture made from garlic.