The author of the text is Dr. Regina Dębicz
Phloxes (phloxes) Phlox are plants with a wide range of applications. Both their tall and low perennial species as well as the low annual species are cultivated. But the species of these groups differ not only in height.
The basic species of this group is the phlox paniculata from North America. It was brought to Europe in the mid-18th century, and a hundred years later, its first garden variety was obtained in France.Currently, several hundred varieties of paniculate flame are grown, differing mainly in flower color and height (60-120 centimeters). The color scale includes many shades of pink, red and purple, but there are also varieties of white with an eye of a different color, mottled, and flowers with a contrastingly colored petal border.
The flowers are gathered at the ends of stiff, thin shoots in dense, highly branched corymbs.Although all varieties bloom in full summer, they differ in flowering times.The earliest ones bloom in the first half of July, the mid-early ones in the second half of July, and the late ones in mid-August. Each variety blooms from 1.5 to 2 months.
We can also regulate the flowering time ourselves. In May, it is enough to cut some of the shoots to half their length and in this way, delaying their flowering, extend the flowering of the entire plant.It is also worth mentioning one remarkable feature of this charming plant - the flowers of the candle flame emit a very pleasant smell.
Low demands, great beauty
The paniculate flame can grow almost anywhere, but this does not mean that it grows to the right size and blooms profusely everywhere.It is best to plant it in a sunny or semi-shaded position, on fertile, clay-sandy soil with a high content of humus with a neutral or slightly acidic pH.The substrate should be moist, especially at the beginning of vegetation.
Plants have high nutritional requirements, therefore we use multi-component fertilizers to fertilize them (note: avoid ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and manure!). It is advisable to mulch around the plants with peat, compost or composted bark.The paniculate perennial is a long-lived perennial, it can grow for several dozen years in one place.Signals to rejuvenate clumps are weaker flowering and growth.
The most popular garden perennials
Immediately after flowering (or in spring), dig out the plants, discard the woody centers of the clumps, and divide the rest into multi-stem parts so that each of them has well-developed roots and plant them immediately in the planned place. The plant can also be propagated from shoot apical cuttings or root cuttings.Plants of this species are planted in perennial beds, along fences and paths, either individually or in small groups on the lawn. We can also cut them into a vase.
