This time we will focus on those features that first of all should be paid attention to by those who want to assemble their own collection of phlox.
For collectors of phlox, his flower is most important. Phlox flowers come in different diameters: very small (diameter less than 1 cm/0.4 in), small (diameter from 1 to 2.5 cm/0.4-1 in), medium (diameter from 2.5 to 4 cm/1-1.6 in), large (diameter from 4 to 4.8 cm/1.6-1.9 in), very large (diameter more than 4.8 cm/1.9 in).
Many flower growers believe that the most important thing is the color of the flower. To accurately describe the colors, use the color scales of the Royal Horticultural Society RHS Color Chart.
The arrangement of the petals is also important; it is determined by their contiguity: the petals may overlap or be separate. The plane in which the petals of phlox flowers are located is flat, convex, cup-shaped when the petals are located at an angle to the plane of the flower.
The various shape of the edge of the petals: round, rounded-conical, oval, toothed, with deep notches. In addition, the edge of the petal can be flat, curved down or wavy. Take a closer look and you will see how a flower of one variety differs from another.
I appreciate phloxes not only for their beautiful flowers, but also for the fact that these decorative, frost-resistant, reliable perennials can meet the most diverse needs of a garden designer.
The shape of the inflorescence is important for composing compositions. It can be, for example, oval or oval-conical. These phloxes are good in cutting and as accents in the flower garden. Also, the shape of the inflorescence can be round, almost spherical; rounded-conical; cylindrical, oblique oval-conical.
The tubular conical shape of most park varieties, which are not suitable for cutting, but their inflorescences are bright and look great from a distance. A low variety (up to 60 cm/2 ft) with flat inflorescences is good to use in the first row of mixborders or in simple garden borders. The flat-rounded shape of the inflorescence is also observed.
This affects the perception of phlox and the density of their inflorescences. Large-flowered phloxes, as a rule, form loose inflorescences, and medium and smaller (less than 3.5 cm/1.4 in) – dense.
For a garden designer, the shape of a phlox bush is extremely important, which is compact; spreading. The semi-spreading form does not require garters, phloxes with the shape of a beehive should be used to prepare compositions; in phloxes with a spreading form, shrub stems may lie — this variety is not for gardening, since they need to be tied up.
To compose compositions, it is important to know the flowering time of phlox varieties. Very early varieties bloom at the end of June, the early ones bloom two weeks after the very early ones. Mid-early phloxes bloom in mid-July, there are a lot of phloxes with such flowering periods.
Phloxes with an average flowering period bloom in late July-early August, this is the most numerous group of varieties. And finally, the mid-late blooms in mid-August, and then – at the end of August – late. Very late varieties of phlox bloom in September. The latter is a wonderful variety ‘Flammap’ 70 cm (2.3 ft) high, with rounded, conical inflorescences; its bright red petals seem blue, and you can see pigmented venation.
The period of maximum decorative phlox is from 14 to 45 days. It is believed that it comes at a time when up to a third of the petals are blooming, and it very much depends on the variety. Phloxes and their height depend on the variety. From low, no higher than 60 cm (2 ft) and up to the highest, which have a height of more than five feet.
A real collector will not neglect the wonderful old varieties. When designing compositions in the garden, I use not only modern, but also varieties of the early twentieth century. The collection of phlox allows not only to gather together plants with a wide variety of qualities, but also to create beautiful and original combinations and paintings with their help.
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