It is difficult to find a gardener who knows nothing about a flower like phlox. This wonderful plant will become a worthy decoration of any garden. A huge variety of species and varieties of phlox makes it possible to create amazing compositions in the landscape design of a personal plot. Such flowers can be used as a background, as well as be the central emphasis on the flowerbed. In the design of the garden, they can be used in a regular flowerbed, flower garden, in a mixborder bordering a track. In our article, we will talk about one of the species of this plant - panicled phlox. Photos and descriptions of different varieties of this flower are waiting for you next!
The appearance of phlox
The birthplace of the named culture is North America. Most species of these plants originate from the eastern United States. On this territory, and now you can meet large thickets of phlox. It is not known for certain when these plants were cultivated, but their first appearance in the gardens was seen at home, in the states of Carolina and Virginia, at the very beginning of the XVIII century.
K. Linney in 1737 for the first time described these plants and gave the name to the genus - phlox. Translated from German and English, it sounds the same - "fluffy." The first phloxes entered Europe through England. It was in this country, starting in 1740, that the described culture was introduced. Phlox paniculata appeared in England in 1743.
By the middle of the 19th century, phloxes became widespread in other European countries. It is believed that at about the same time or a little later they appeared on the territory of Russia. They gained immense popularity in our country in the 30s of the last century.
Phlox paniculata: description, photo
Undemanding care, splendor and brightness of flowering, a diverse palette of colors, frost resistance, a delicate amazing aroma - all this can not fail to interest gardeners. The type of panicled phlox is considered the most common and well-known. It should be noted that the variety of varieties developed by domestic breeders in this particular category of flowers can surprise even an experienced gardener.
Introducing the main features of the group:
- They are distinguished by height: high (from meter to one and a half meters), medium (to meter), low (from forty to sixty centimeters).
- The leaves of phloxes have an elongated, lanceolate shape, with a length of 6 to 15 centimeters.
- Plants have a straight stem, which becomes stiff by autumn.
- Inflorescences they have a variety of shapes, often spherical. By density - loose and compact.
- Phloxes are also distinguished by flowering time: early flowering (July), average flowering time (July-August), late flowering (August-September);
In addition, as already mentioned, plants are distinguished by a variety of color palette and varieties.
Popular varieties: Snow White
Imagine a selection of the most popular varieties of panicled phloxes with photos. All of them have their own advantages and features over others.
The first of them is Snow White. The bush is tall, sprawling. Its growth ranges from 60 to 80 centimeters. The stems are strong, powerful, densely leafy.
The inflorescence is beautifully folded, dense, pyramidal-spherical in shape. The flower is star-shaped, white, with a faint pink hue in the throat, the tube is pink. The flower itself is small in diameter, about four centimeters. The leaves of the plant are green.
Phlox panicled Snow White quickly and easily multiplies. Abundant flowering begins in mid-July and lasts a long time. Phlox looks especially impressive in a single landing, as well as with darker varieties. The plant is unpretentious in maintenance, winter-hardy and does not need shelter for the winter period. The variety was bred in 1952 by breeder N. S. Krasnova.
Unique Old Pink
The original variety of foreign selection was bred in the Netherlands. It belongs to perennial frost-resistant shrubs. The plant itself is low, up to 45 centimeters. The bush is compact, with lots of leaves. The stems are powerful, erect. The leaves are elongated, lanceolate, opposite. Each flower consists of five petals with a diameter of 3 centimeters. The flowers are pale pink with a white star in the middle. The finest aroma comes from the plant.
The panicled phlox variety Unic Old Pink is preferable to be planted at partial shade. In the bright sun, delicate pink flowers burn out, and in the shade the plant slows down growth.
Perennial unpretentious to growing conditions, but prefers a well-fertilized moist moist soil. Flowering continues for two months: in July and August. The variety is frost-resistant, tolerates even very low temperatures.
The plant propagates by dividing the bush, by cuttings, as well as layering. Planted it to decorate borders, flower beds, flower beds. When planting, it is used both in single and in group compositions.
Twister
Panicled phlox Twister also applies to perennials. This is a compact strong plant with a height of 50-70 centimeters and a width of about 60 centimeters. The stems are erect, strong, highly leafy. Petals of white color, on each of them in the middle passes a small bright strip of red-pink color.
The flower in diameter has 3.5-4 centimeters. The inflorescence is a round conical shape, medium density and size. Flowers begin to bloom in the second half of July and continue flowering in August. One of the advantages of Twister is that he is not affected by powdery mildew.
The described panicled phlox variety is preferable to be planted in well-lit places, protected from piercing winds. He landed on well-fertilized, rich in humus, loose drained soils. Plants need regular watering, but water stagnation should not be allowed. The twister is used for group plantings, various flower beds and flower beds, as well as for cutting.
Neon Fleur - panic phlox, photo
Among gardeners, one of the favorite varieties of this species is Phlox Neon Fleur. The demand for this variety is due to the fact that the inflorescences are spectacularly and brightly colored: the petals of a milky shade are edged with a crimson color along the edges, the eye has the same color in the middle. But with prolonged exposure to the sun, the petals become almost white.
The bush of the plant is low, only 40 centimeters and 50 centimeters wide. Inflorescences have a rounded shape. The size of the flowers is not more than 3 centimeters in diameter. A feature of this variety is considered to be long flowering, which lasts from July to September. Blooming once, very plentiful.
Phlox Neon Fleur is recommended to be planted pointwise in the front garden or garden, this will hide small empty areas, the irregularities of the flowerbed. They also look good when used in longline design. These flowers prefer partial shade to the sun. The variety is frost-resistant, tolerates severe frosts well.
Stars and Strips
The variety has an amazing color and is able to bring zest to any garden and add originality to any floral arrangements. The phlox flowers are rounded, coral pink in color, and in the middle of the petals there are randomly scattered strokes of silver-milky color. In the middle of the flower there is an eye of carmine shade.
The flower is quite large, with a diameter of 4-4.5 centimeters, the inflorescences are dense. The bush is large, erect, about 70 centimeters high. Phlox Stars and Strips blooms in mid-summer, blooms for a month and a half. It grows well in sunny and shaded areas, but in penumbra flowering is longer. The plant prefers moist, fertilized soil. The variety differs in winter hardiness and resistance to the most basic phlox diseases.
Creme de la creme
Phlox is a herbaceous, perennial plant. From the description of panicled phlox, Crem de la Crem, it is known that the plant has upright stems, a bush up to 60 centimeters high. The leaves of the phlox are solid, sessile, opposite.
The flowers of the plant are unusually beautiful, have several shades: from white-green to pink-cream. Creamy lemon petals, topped with pink stripes along the edge. The buds are yellow, some of them unfold like roses. The inflorescence is large, quite dense. Flowers in diameter reach 2-3 centimeters. Flowering is long, from July to September.
The variety is frost-resistant, able to withstand temperatures up to -34 degrees. Resistant to disease. Propagated best by dividing the bush in spring or autumn. Cuttings are carried out in June-July, using young green shoots up to 10 centimeters high for this.
Phlox Cream de la Cream is planted in mixborders, in single and group plantings. A variety is suitable for decorating a garden in a country style. Plants with diffused lighting are best suited for planting this variety of phloxes, plants can get burned from the scorching sunlight.
Seat selection and landing
Let's move on to the next step: consider the proper landing of panicled phlox and caring for it. Before proceeding with the planting of phloxes, it would be useful to find out what their root system is. This is necessary in order to choose the most favorable place for landing.
Root system
Phlox is very demanding on moisture, but at the same time does not tolerate stagnation of water, especially in the soil layer where the main part of their roots is located. Usually they are at a depth of 3 to 15 cm. Small phlox subordinate roots go to a depth of no more than 22 cm. From this we can draw the following conclusion: if groundwater passes above 15 cm to the soil surface, when planting in a simple way, the roots of the plant, without receiving oxygen, they will die, and then the whole plant. Therefore, in the case of a close location of groundwater, high beds should be made, the height of which should not exceed 10-15 centimeters.
It must be remembered that this culture cannot be planted near trees and tall bushes. The fact is that phloxes will begin to compete for light, power, moisture and ultimately lose.
The soil
Phlox is a fairly hardy plant and can grow on any soil, but the most favorable growth and flowering can be obtained by planting them on loose, fertile and moist soil.
Sun or shadow
It is preferable to plant phlox in a sunny or slightly shaded place. In the sun, the inflorescences will be more lush and dense, in the shade - friable and pale, but will bloom longer. When growing phlox in the southern regions, plants must be shaded at noon.
Landing time
Panicled phlox with an open root system is planted in early spring, immediately after the soil thaws, as well as in early autumn with growth buds already established. In central Russia, this time falls on the end of April - May, the end of August - September.
The stems of plants during autumn planting are shortened by a third. Phlox with a closed root system can be planted throughout the growing season.
Reproduction and care
It should be noted that the characteristics of the variety are not lost with any type of reproduction, except for seed. A panicled phlox propagates:
- by seeds;
- cuttings (stem and root);
- axillary kidneys;
- summer-autumn shoots;
- dividing the bush.
For phlox panicled care is simple. It is necessary to carry out timely weeding, acting neatly, not forgetting that the root system is located quite close to the surface of the earth. To carry out timely watering and top dressing. If necessary, carry out treatment from pests.
Feeding and watering
In order for the plant to have a more spectacular appearance, it is necessary to periodically feed, which should continue throughout the growing season. You need to start them from the moment you wake up the first kidney and until the leaves are completely dropped.
The soil where panicled phloxes are grown should be kept moist. If there is no rain, you need to organize regular watering. Loosening the soil is necessary.
If a snowy winter is expected, the plants should be sheltered, otherwise they may die. Snow cover 60 cm thick is able to protect phlox from frost to -35 ° C without shelter.
Diseases and Pests
Like all garden plants, phlox is susceptible to various diseases and pests. Among them are the following:
- naked slug;
- stem nematode;
- spider mite;
- wireworm;
- earwig.
If plants are weakened by a lack of nutrition and moisture, they can be attacked by aphids. The diseases inherent in this type of plant are as follows: powdery mildew, fomosis, septoria.