The author of one of the most famous sayings about flames is Karl Foerster (1874-1970), a famous German gardener, expert and grower of perennials. It reads: "A garden without a flame is a mistake."Today we could say that about other flowering perennials.One thing is for sure: the magnificent Phlox paniculata belongs to the group of the most lush summer perennials with a long flowering period.
Its tall, often over a meter long shoots are crowned with numerous, small, single flowers gathered in magnificent panicles of nostalgic charm. From a distance, inflorescences in strong, saturated shades of red, pink and purple are clearly visible. The varieties with white, pale pink or light blue flowers are more delicate.
The wonderful inflorescence panicles have one more advantage: they usually smell nice. The array of fragrances ranges from sweet honey and violet aromas to sharper herbal scents. They are most noticeable on warm days in the afternoon and evening. If we like strong floral aromas, we should pay attention to intensely fragrant varieties, such as 'Dorffreude', 'Gräfin von Schwerin' or 'Uspech'.
Over the years, attention was paid to the various qualities of the flames.Today, the most popular are varieties with a compact habit and shoots no more than half a meter high.They can also be successfully grown in very small flower beds, and are distinguished by the stability of the shoots and a long flowering period. These are the features of the flames from the Flame group, as well as the new variety of 'Aureole'. A disadvantage of all forms of paniculate flame is its high susceptibility to mildew.
The risk of fungus infection can be significantly reduced, however, by providing the plants with an optimal position and a lot of moisture in hot weather.In worse conditions, we can grow the least sensitive varieties. Another solution is to grow another species, i.e. Phlox amplifolia, which grows well and blooms even in quite dry places.
We can extend the flowering period of the flames in a simple way.In summer we regularly remove wilting inflorescences. After a short pause, new inflorescences will appear, which also need to be trimmed before the seeds are ripe. If we do not do this, young plants will appear that do not repeat the features of the variety.In the next season, already at the end of May, we can shorten the flame shoots by about 20 cm.Strongly branching plants will significantly extend the flowering period.
Growing conditions
Tall species of flame love the fertile and constantly moderately moist soil.However, their cultivation is also possible when the garden has light, sandy soil, provided that it is fertile and contains humus.
Before planting demanding perennials, each light, sterile soil should be enriched with a large dose of compost. The requirements of different varieties must also be taken into account, as they have long adapted to the site conditions of farm horticulture and, for example, develop beautifully and bloom in summer with a predominance of warm periods, with little rainfall.
In reputable horticulture
Perennials Foerster in Potsdam near Berlin, forms were bred, each of which often blooms longer than ten weeks, that is, over two summer months. They include, among others varieties 'Düsterlohe', 'Redivivus' and 'Wennschondennschon'.
If we have more space in the garden, let's plant early, medium-late and late varieties in one bed.In this way, our flames can bloom in favorable weather conditions from the end of June to almost the third decade of September. An arrangement with summer flames will look most beautiful if we plant at least five plants of one variety in one group.
Practical advice
Flame paniculata Phlox paniculata is very sensitive to growing conditions.A sunny position suits him best, but not too hot.The substrate should be evenly moist and fertile. Excess moisture is harmful. In partial shade, plants grow higher, but flowering is delayed and less abundant.
Water the flames abundantly from below during periods of drought. In autumn, we feed them with mature compost, and in early spring with fertilizer with an increased nitrogen content.In May, we use a complete liquid fertilizer as a supplement.After six to ten years, divide the perennials in the spring and plant them in a new place.
Flame protection
Flames are quite hardy plants. They are rarely attacked by pests and infested with bacteria or fungi.This does not mean, however, that this situation can last forever.Sometimes on the leaves of the flame you can see a white coating of powdery mildew mycelium.If more and more leaves are infected, treatment with a fungicide should be applied. When we find the characteristic white foam on the stem, we are probably dealing with a Philaenus spumarius salivary gland.
The larvae of this species live in this white discharge formed by blowing air into their own protein-containing faeces (hence the foaming effect).White foam protects the larvae from unfavorable weather conditions and natural enemies . Flame roots can also be attacked by nematodes, more about which you can read on the next page. As soon as symptoms of infection are noticed, the dying plants should be removed immediately.
