Picture courtesy Malcolm MannersDescription, History & Interesting Facts:

Phlox are garden annuals of exceptional quality and character. They are native to Texas and are widely distributed in the south-eastern United States.

The latest varieties are both free-flowering and compact growing. The flowers are fragrant and splendid for cutting and the large clusters of delicate blooms come in many pastel and bright shades of red, pink, coral, blue, lilac, purple white and even yellow. Some varieties have beautiful fringed, star-shaped petals with a white edge.

In the Garden:

The new compact varieties will grow quickly to about 25cm tall and 20cm wide, and these low-growing plants look gorgeous if massed together in annual flowerbeds and along walkways. They also grow easily in containers of all shapes and sizes.

Picture courtesy Malcolm MannersCultivation/Propagation:

Phlox can be grown almost throughout the year in South Africa but grow best in the cooler season. In humid regions plant them when the weather cools down in autumn.

They are hardy to all but severe frost, and grow well throughout the country as long as they are planted in good well-drained soil, and can be watered regularly in dry regions. 

Phlox grow easily in full sun to light shade, but in very hot areas plant them where they will receive shade during the hottest part of the day.

Sow seed in seedling trays in autumn or spring. Germination will take 3 to 7 days in ideal soil temperatures between 15 and 21°C.

Use a sterile, soil-less growing medium like perlite or palm peat. Cover the seed with about 1cm of vermiculite as darkness is required for germination. Place the trays in a cool place. Make sure that the compost is moist but not wet and seal the trays with a clear plastic bag or a pane of glass until germination.

Your plants will bloom about 12 to 14 weeks after sowing.

To help prevent fungal diseases, water your transplanted seedlings moderately for the first two weeks and then allow them to dry out moderately before watering. Do not however, allow your seedlings to wilt.

Pinch out the main shoot to promote bushy growth and feed every 6 weeks with a liquid fertiliser.