Phlox splayed: photo and description, planting and care

Planting and care

Phlox prostrate prefers semi-shaded and illuminated places with shading during the midday hours. It needs moist, light, slightly acidic, nutritious soil with a high content of humus.

Shoots begin to grow in early May. Numerous flower stalks 20-30 cm high grow from the axils of the leaves on creeping stems; in late May - early June they are covered with numerous flowers in blue and lilac-lilac tones.

It blooms quite early - at the end of May, and not for too long - 25-30 days. As for the flowering itself, it can be very abundant. In dry and hot weather, the flowering time is reduced.

In the first ten days of May, after the weather with positive temperatures sets in, phloxes are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Before flowering, give a second feeding with complete mineral fertilizer. Plants are lightly mulched with light nutritious soil. After flowering, phloxes grow actively and again need feeding with full mineral fertilizer.

One of the main agronomic features of this species is that splayed phlox requires loose soil in which weeds reproduce easily and quickly. Therefore, frequent weeding cannot be avoided here.

It is necessary to maintain constant soil moisture on the site. Watering should be regular, especially in dry weather.

Description of perennial splayed phlox

Spreading, Canadian or spreading phlox is a perennial from the Sinyukhov family and the Phlox genus. The stems of the plant are dense, creeping type, the perennial forms a turf cover in the places where it grows. The perennial leaves are elongated, lanceolate, bright green. The plant blooms in May or June and produces inflorescences in the form of splayed corymbs, hence the name. The drop-shaped petals of phlox spread out to the sides, attaching to the core with tapering parts.

The height of the spreading phlox usually does not exceed 20-40 cm, the diameter of the bush is about 50-60 cm, and the diameter of the flowers is about 3 cm. The structure of the phlox is quite spreading; several perennials planted nearby can form a bright, noticeable flower bed.

Spreading Canadian phlox prefers to grow in partial shade or in lighted areas with light shading in the afternoon. The plant needs moist and nutritious, slightly acidic soils; perennials can also grow on dry and poor soils, but not as actively. Under good conditions, the perennial adds several centimeters per year and forms a full-fledged flowering bush in about 3 seasons.

The homeland of spreading phlox is North America, but currently it grows in Europe, in Russia in the middle zone and even in Siberia. The plant feels best in the Central region with a mild climate, but can also grow in more severe climate areas. The frost resistance of the plant allows it to tolerate temperatures down to – 30 °C, and if the perennial is well covered, then lower temperatures will not lead to freezing.

Reproduction.

Spring flowering phloxes practically do not produce seeds, so they are propagated vegetatively by dividing old bushes or rooting cuttings. The ability of the stems of phlox to form roots at the nodes of the shoots, where they come into contact with the soil, makes the task of propagation very simple.

Reproduction by layering. The simplicity of this method is obvious: at the beginning of summer, the stems are laid out on previously loosened and moistened soil and pressed down with pebbles or pressed with slingshots from branches until roots and new shoots appear. The mail is moistened periodically. In spring, young bushes are replanted.

Propagation by cuttings . To quickly obtain a large amount of planting material, long stems are cut into pieces with 3 to 4 internodes. Leaves and side branches are removed from the lower two internodes. You can also use the tops of the stem. The soil should be loose and light. The cuttings are planted obliquely in a greenhouse or in a special shaded bed at a distance of 5 to 10 cm from each other. Plantings can be covered with film to retain moisture in hot, dry weather. Young plants are planted in a permanent place next spring.

Care Tips

From the beginning of spring, when accelerated growth of the stem and leaves occurs, they are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. During the period of bud formation and flowering, potassium and phosphorus are added. When the plant has flowered, it needs phosphorus. If there is an excess of fertilizer, the stems crack and the inflorescences become loose; if there is too little, the flowering period is shortened, the color becomes less bright, and the flowers become smaller.

Plants need to be watered 4-5 times with liquid fertilizer. In May, do 1-2 fertilizing with fertilizers with an increased dose of nitrogen. For the first feeding, you can make an infusion of ash, dolomite flour, green manure, mullein, and nettle. In the second, 3 g of ammonium nitrate is added to the Kemira Combi solution (20 g per 10 l). In early June, they are fed with nitrogen-potassium or complex fertilizers.

When the plants have just bloomed, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied to the soil. It is better to water phloxes in the evening with warm water. To retain moisture, it is useful to mulch them on top. The plant may die if water stagnates.

Phlox in garden design.

Phlox splayed serves as an excellent decoration for rock gardens, rocky gardens, and mixed flower beds next to tulips and yellow daisies. In monoflowered phlox flowers, it is suitable for the background. It looks very impressive with large carpets among stones, under tree canopies or near ponds.

The disadvantage of spreading phlox is that after flowering it loses its decorative effect. Faded shoots must be cut off; the clumps quickly recover and form lush bushes by the end of July. The phlox planting site can be decorated with other plants whose period of active growth begins in early summer.

Rules of care

All that is necessary is to promptly remove weeds from the flowerbed, loosen the soil, water when the soil is dry, sometimes fertilize, and remove the tops. Despite the ease of care, the plant should be properly cultivated. How to do this is written below.

Watering

Taking into account the characteristics of the homeland of phlox splayed (eastern United States, Canada), the planting area is regularly moistened. The plant does not require a lot of water, since its root system is located close to the surface of the earth, but frequent watering is desirable.

It's important not to overdo it here. If overwatered, the plant will rot.

To prevent this from happening, it is important to observe the measure by monitoring the condition of the soil. If it is dry, then you can safely water it

Much attention should be paid to the flower during the dry period

Watering

It is easy to influence the volume and density of inflorescences. It is necessary to regularly feed the plant. This must be done throughout the growing season. Among nutrients, it is recommended to use both organic and inorganic fertilizers. Before the start of the summer period, the plant is watered with a solution of infused chicken manure - 25 grams are required for 10 liters of water. The next fertilizer is applied to the soil after two weeks.

Next, apply mineral fertilizer for fertilizing: superphosphate, potassium salt. At the beginning and end of July, fertilizing is carried out with a clean solution. To do this, you need to make a mixture of fluorine and potassium salt. Nitrogen is highly discouraged because it leads to green growth. The plant does not need this for a good overwintering.

Superphosphate fertilizer

People who have just begun to engage in floriculture are prejudiced against pruning, considering it unnecessary. In fact it is necessary

This is an important action that can prevent the formation of harmful microorganisms. Pruning only benefits flowers by promoting plant health and increasing the amount of nutrients in the roots.

Experienced gardeners advise cutting off parts of the plant near the ground - this minimizes the likelihood of damage to the stems. There are those who advise leaving 10 cm “columns” above the ground, which will ensure snow retention. Everyone can choose any one they like from these two methods. Both of them will not harm the plants. Just be sure to remove the cut stems from the front garden and burn them, and treat the cuts with a fungicide.

Attention! Phlox pruning is carried out immediately after they have bloomed or at the end of September.

It is important to have time to carry out this procedure before the onset of cold days

Usage

In terms of size, phlox is spread out - a kind of transitional stage from ground cover forms to bush forms. When creating mixborders from phlox, nature itself destined this species to be in the second tier. But when planting splayed phlox in groups, you should take into account that it fades quite early, and you need to think in advance about how to cover it in the future.

Phlox splayed can be successfully included in the assortment of rockeries, shady flower gardens, and the northern part of the rock garden. Can also be used in landscape flower beds, mixborders, and compositions near ponds.

Phlox splayed is also grown in pots and for cutting. Forcing is possible, including in cold greenhouses at the end of March.

Preparing phlox for winter

On dry autumn days, the bush and the ground around it are treated with fungicides. After 14 days, add a tablespoon of superphosphate and a little ash under each bush. Then mulch with horse manure, peat or humus. Place 3/4 of a bucket of peat or 1/2 of a bucket of manure on one bush. Spruce spruce branches and plant tops are placed on top of the piles.

In spring, the tops or spruce branches are removed.

This is done so that insects that have overwintered in the tops do not penetrate new shoots. You cannot cover the bushes with film or roofing felt.

Phlox splayed is very popular among gardeners as it looks like a blue carpet and blooms in the spring when there are few flowering plants.

The word "phlox" is translated from Greek as "flame". In wild species, dense flowers in bright shades of red really resemble flames from a distance. This type of phlox was called splayed due to the fact that the petals of small flowers are located at a distance from each other. There are other names for spreading phlox - forest phlox, wild blue carnation, Canadian phlox.

Phlox splayed is very popular among landscape designers. It is often used in alpine slides, rockeries and rock gardens. Phlox flowers are ideally combined with daisies, tulips, lungworts, primroses and swimsuits. We will look at how to grow and care for this plant in this article.

Folk signs and legends

Phloxes have been surrounded by legends and signs since ancient times. Since the name of the flowers has a “fiery” meaning, the legend of their appearance on Earth is also associated with fire.

Phlox can also decorate your home if you cut them and put them in a vase.

Along it, Odysseus, descending with his comrades into the dark kingdom of Hades, lit torches. After their journey, the king and his soldiers threw torches on the ground, and after a while phlox appeared in their place.

Interesting fact ! It is believed that bright red or burgundy phlox can ignite passion between lovers. But pale blue ones will help keep your mistress away from home.

Even for those who do not believe in omens, this flower will bring positive emotions. Its pleasant aroma and bright blooms will fill the garden with a good mood.

Description of the plant

Phlox splayed is a perennial low-growing shrub, reaching a height of no more than 30 cm. The stems of the plant literally crawl along the ground, forming a carpet.

The leaves are oblong, lanceolate, green, rather hard, 4-5 cm long (see photo).

Fragrant star-shaped flowers are collected in racemes of about 10 pieces. Each flower is no more than 3 cm in diameter. The color can be blue, lilac, violet, white, lavender or purple tones. Some varieties have a darker center of the flower.

Flowering begins in mid-May - early June and lasts more than 3 weeks. With proper care, many flowers bloom and you get a continuous colored carpet.

Description of the species

Spreading phlox (Phlox Divaricata) is a species of perennial herbaceous plant from the genus of the same name, the family Sinyukhidae. Presented by low bushes 20–40 cm with creeping thin shoots. The leaves are narrow, numerous, arranged oppositely, and colored bright green. At the same time, they are quite large – they reach 5 cm in length.

Sky blue flowers appear at the end of May

The sizes are small - the diameter of the inflorescence is from 2 to 3 cm, depending on the type. Flowering begins quite early - at the end of May, lasting 3-4 weeks. At this time, the flower garden usually looks empty, since other crops will produce buds later. It is phlox that can revive the garden and create a summer mood.

In nature, phlox splayed is common in mixed forests of the USA and Canada, which is why it is also called Canadian. It grows both in thickets and on the edges, and forms beautiful flower carpets on rocky slopes.

Choosing a landing site and conditions of detention

Phlox splayed is a rather unpretentious plant; both shaded and illuminated places are suitable for it. The optimal location would be in the garden, where at noon the phloxes will be in the shade, and in the morning and evening hours under the rays of the sun.

In any case, the plant should not remain in the shade around the clock; this will lead to poor flowering and the stems will stretch upward unattractively. In a more illuminated area, the flowering period is extended, and it becomes unusually lush.

Planting phlox should be planned away from taller plants and with a powerful root system. They will draw out all the moisture and nutrients, and the phlox will die.

Place to plant a flower

Phlox subulate: planting and care in open ground

The ideal place for planting Phlox Spread will be a semi-shaded area in the garden or a lighted place covered with shadow during lunch hours. Therefore, this species is often planted under spreading trees, tall bushes or next to gazebos.

Note ! Areas where you plan to create a rock garden or rock garden are well suited for planting. A pond nearby can be a plus as it will make it easier to frequently moisten the soil.

Excellent combination of phlox and low shrub

Planting phlox splayed

The best time for planting phlox seedlings in central Russia is from late April to mid-May or in the fall from late August to mid-September. For other regions, planting time occurs after the end of spring frosts or before the onset of autumn frosts.

For planting phlox, loamy soils with weak and neutral acidity are preferred.

When planting, seedlings are placed at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other, taking into account their rapid growth. It is recommended to replant phloxes every 5-6 years. One bush can live 10 years.

The procedure for planting phlox seedlings:

1. Prepare holes for planting a week in advance. Dig a hole of sufficient width and depth to accommodate a seedling with a lump of earth.
2. Add fertilizer to the bottom of the pit - compost and wood ash. Lime is usually added to highly acidic soil.
3. Place the seedling vertically in the hole and straighten the roots.
4. Carefully fill in the soil, with the root collar being 2-3 cm below ground level and lightly compacted.
5. Water the planted plants generously.
6. The soil around the seedling must be mulched with the addition of peat and humus.

Phlox splayed in landscape design

This crop is widely used to decorate your site. You can find her:

1. In the flowerbed
   . Pale neon buds will perfectly complement a composition of other flowering and non-flowering plants. Combinations of options depend only on the imagination of the owner of his own personal plot.
2. As a frame for paths
   . This is an excellent solution for decorating a stone-lined path. The splayed blue phlox looks elegant and at the same time calm, without much pretentiousness.
3. On an alpine hill
   . Such a carpet of purple flowers, intricately hanging from huge boulders, looks mysterious and incredibly beautiful.

Features of care

Watering

A plant planted in the shade and on moist soils does not need watering, but if phlox is planted in a well-lit area, then watering is necessary, especially in dry weather. Since the plant has superficial roots, it must be watered often and little by little, avoiding stagnation of water to prevent rotting. It is better to water in the evening with warm, settled water.

Weeding

One of the important measures in caring for spreading phlox is the timely removal of weeds, which not only create an unsightly appearance, but also draw nutrients from the soil. Insects can also settle in weeds - pests, which also attract various plant diseases.

It is better to remove weeds when they have just sprouted, without waiting for them to grow large and take deep roots. By pulling out large weeds from the garden bed, you can also pull out phlox bushes with their shallow root system.

Top dressing

You can increase the number of flowers and prolong the flowering of phlox with the help of proper feeding. It is good to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. At the end of spring, phloxes are watered with a solution of chicken manure in a proportion of 25 g. litter per 10 liters of water. After 2 weeks, superphosphate or potassium salt should be added to the same solution and watered.

At the beginning of July, the plants are also watered with a fertilizer solution. At the end of the month, feeding is done with a mixture of fluoride and potassium salt. Nitrogen will be excess during this period. After flowering, the plant should rest before winter and quietly overwinter.

Trimming

This event is necessary for phlox; it protects the plant from pests and diseases, promotes abundant and long flowering. Immediately after flowering, phloxes lose their decorative appearance and it is better to prune them before the onset of cold weather.

Some gardeners advise pruning at the root for the best prevention of diseases and pests. Other gardeners believe that it is necessary to leave branches at a height of 10 cm; they are able to retain snow in winter, which will protect the roots from freezing. Both methods are quite good; each gardener chooses the most suitable one for himself.

After pruning, the branches must be collected and burned, and the bases of the plants should be sprayed with a fungicide.

Mulching

In hot weather, the soil under phloxes must be mulched. This will help retain moisture in the soil and prevent the root system, which is located close to the surface, from drying out.

Creating a flowering carpet or phlox agricultural technology

Place for flowers

Plants such as phlox are quite unpretentious. You can plant them with little care and still see them bloom. But summer residents who care about their garden residents know that when you pay more attention to flowers, trees or vegetable crops, the return is always immediate. Same with splayed phloxes. If you want to see such abundant flowering as in the photo and continue it for 1-2 decades, then take into account what we will write next.

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So, it is generally accepted that phlox grows both in the shade and in the sun. But this is not entirely true, in the first case the bushes become very elongated and produce sparse flowering, in the second they burn, become loose, and the flowers dry out. Yes, phlox are light-loving flowers, but it is better to plant them in partial shade or in places where the sun is hidden at noon. Then your bushes will be completely covered with inflorescences, they will be bright, without dry edges.

Also, you should not plant splayed phlox where large trees or flowers with powerful roots grow. In the battle for light and nutrients in the soil, the first will lose. It is better not to plant plants where there is a lot of weeds, especially if you cannot weed them so often. The reason is this:

• a large number of weeds is an accumulation of pathogenic flora, and phlox cannot be called absolutely resistant to diseases;
• the grass has long, branched roots, while the flowers are weak and superficial. The first ones will interfere and take away all the nutrients;
• When weeds grow through phloxes, when you pull them out there is a risk of tearing out the flowers. The bushes, of course, will not die, but the decorative effect will be ruined.

Soil for flowers

Spreading phloxes are also undemanding to the soil, but again, fertile soil prolongs flowering. Therefore, it is better to plant on a fertilized area and apply 3-4 additional feeds during the entire growing season. This makes it possible to extend flowering for a decade. But what phloxes are very capricious about is stagnant soil. The roots are sensitive to water; it accumulates during the thaw period; there should be no floods in the area.

Saplings

Most often, spreading phloxes are bought at the market or taken from someone on the site. Flowers are very easily propagated by dividing the root and cuttings, so it is better not to plant them with seeds, but to ask your neighbor in the country. The seedlings take root very quickly, even cuttings that are left without roots during digging are placed in the ground immediately, and they take root. Summer residents who grow spreading phlox always have leftovers because the flowers are pruned and their growth in the flower bed is limited.

On a note! Phlox can grow in one place for more than ten years without losing their decorative properties with minimal annual care.

Flowerbed planting and care

You have seedlings of spreading phlox, the place has been chosen. Now you need to remove all the weeds; we can recommend spraying the grass with Roundup 2-3 weeks before the intended planting. It acts through the leaves on the entire weed, it dies. Before planting, 3-4 days before planting, the area is disinfected with boiling water and manganese - the pathogenic flora and the remaining roots die. Now the soil is dug up and small depressions are made for the spreading roots of the splayed phlox. A 1-2 cm layer of perlite or crushed stone is placed on the bottom for drainage. Top it with a third of humus mixed with a glass of wood ash.

Seedlings are placed in the holes and filled in, the earth is compacted around the roots. Plantings are watered abundantly. The first two weeks the phloxes will take root and they don’t need anything other than water. After 14 days, you can add fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to increase greenery. To do this, dilute 25 grams of chicken manure in a bucket of water and pour the flower bed under the root in the evening. In the morning after each moistening, you need to loosen the soil, but be careful with the surface roots. It is better to remove weeds as they appear, so that the roots do not have time to grow too much.

Two weeks after the first feeding, you can add a second one based on potassium and phosphorus. Potassium salt and superphosphate are suitable. After flowering, only phosphorus fertilizing is applied. You can use a mixture of potassium salt and fluorine for spreading phlox. During the season, several foliar feedings are carried out based on infusions of weeds and dry bread. To prevent diseases, a weak solution of manganese is periodically used.

For information! Foliar subcortex is spraying. It helps to absorb substances through the leaves, and is carried out only in dry and cool weather, not in fog.

After the flowers have bloomed, gradually reduce watering to 1-2 times every 14 days. Experienced gardeners recommend pruning phlox, and we agree with them on this. So, next year the bushes will have a more decorative appearance, the dry parts will not spoil the aesthetics, and pruning rejuvenates the plants. Therefore, in the fall you need to feed with any preparation that does not contain nitrogen, so that the phloxes do not start growing again, cut off the above-ground part, leaving 10 cm from the ground. It is better to cover the top of the plantings with mulch, since nowadays winters can be completely snowless, and the bushes risk freezing.

Propagation of phlox splayed

Phlox is propagated in the following ways: by dividing the bush, cuttings, layering and seeds.

Propagation by seeds

Seeds are sown in open ground or in special containers with soil consisting of equal parts of sand, peat, deciduous soil and humus. The seeds are covered at a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The seedlings are moved to open ground in mid-April after the end of the cold weather.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This is the fastest and easiest way to reproduce. You need to take a 4-5 year old bush, dig it up in the fall or early spring and divide it into the required number of parts.

Propagation by cuttings

It is produced in May, when the plant has more vitality. Choose a strong, good sprout and cut it obliquely with a sharp knife. Next, divide it into parts so that there are 2 internodes on each segment. The cuttings are planted in soil watered with water and covered with film to create a greenhouse effect.

Reproduction by layering

Very often, stems creeping along the ground take root and take root themselves. If this does not happen, then the branches can be laid out on pre-moistened and loosened soil, pressed in places with pebbles or staples to the ground, and moistened periodically. By spring, young plants are transplanted to a permanent place.

Description of the variety

Phlox splayed (lat. Phlox Divaricata) is a short plant with elongated 20-centimeter stems. The length of the leaves can reach 40 cm. The highlight of this variety of phlox is the shoots that grow, creep along the ground and form a turf. The inflorescences are loose.

Plants of this species are available in various shades. You can often find splayed phlox in lavender blue, light blue or pink. Less common are pale lilac, pink, light purple, and white flowers. Thanks to this color scheme, it is quite easy to distinguish them from their “relatives”. In addition, they are distinguished by the shape of the petals: wide edges smoothly move to the core, tapering and forming a bundle or tube.

Phlox splayed

The diameter of a fully bloomed flower is 5 cm. You can see the beauty that pleases the eye at the end of spring. Flowering continues until mid-summer. The oblong-ovate leaves are slightly inclined downward, reaching a length of 5 cm. The peculiarity of the splayed phlox lies in the arrangement of the flower corollas.

Flower nectar is formed at the base of the corollas. Only bees with a long proboscis, bloodworms, and butterflies can reach it. Those insects with short proboscis consume pollen. Insects that feed on the flower's nectar help cross-pollinate the plant, since the plant is unable to produce it on its own.

Preparing for winter

Phloxes can die at a temperature of 10-15 degrees below zero if measures are not taken to insulate and cover them:

1. In the fall, after the end of flowering, when the ground is already beginning to freeze, the last fertilizing is done - 1 spoon of superphosphate and ash is poured under each bush.
2. Cover the trunk holes with dry peat, humus, sawdust, and compost of fallen leaves.
3. Mulch 10 days after preventive treatment with fungicides.
4. To winter without shelter, phlox need a half-meter layer of snow above them. At the same time, it is impossible to trample and compact the snow; the ice crust can destroy the plants.

Diseases and pests

Phlox are quite susceptible to attack by pests such as slugs, earwigs, slobbering pennies, wireworms and spider mites. Plants are often affected by thrips and nematodes. Diseases that pose a threat are powdery mildew, phomosis and septoria.

If the rules of agricultural technology are not followed, the bushes weaken and are susceptible to attack by insects and various diseases. A timely loosened, watered and fertilized garden, treated with fungicides for prevention, as a rule, is protected from all misfortunes.

If the moment is missed, then urgent action must be taken. For insects, flower growers recommend spraying with the following preparations: “Aktara”, “Karate”, “Fury”, “Bi-58 New”, “Kinmiks”, “Sumi-Alpha”.

Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, Skor, Fundazol and Topaz are good for infectious and fungal diseases.

Before winter, it is necessary to treat the tree trunk areas with Bordeaux mixture. In the summer, carry out preventive spraying with Fundazol every two weeks.

The main varieties of phlox splayed

Currently, about 50 different varieties of spreading phlox have been obtained. The most popular of them:

1. "Chattahoochee." It has bushes up to 25 cm high, flowers of a lavender hue.
2. "May Breeze." Tall bushes with large inflorescences of a soft lilac hue.
3. "Digiro Ice". Fast growing shrub with creamy blue flowers.
4. "Variegata". The peculiarity of this variety is its variegated white-green leaves and low stems.
5. Fullers White. The peculiarity of this plant is its snow-white flowers.

Phlox splayed: planting, care, reproduction, description, photo, video.

Phlox splayed is a perennial plant, these are small loose bushes up to 25-30 cm in height. Its leaves are oblong.

Its natural habitat is the eastern United States and Canada. Grows in mountains and humid forests. Phlox is planted in rock gardens, rock gardens, and rockeries. When it fades, it loses its decorative effect. Phlox produces almost no seeds, which is why they are propagated by dividing the bush or by cuttings or layering.

Spreading phlox comes in many varieties. The most popular and recommended for use are the following varieties:

• "Blue Dreams" The variety has star-shaped flowers, the color of the petals is lilac-blue. In the central part of the flower there is a dark eye. The height of the plant reaches 30 cm. The variety has a pleasant aroma and grows strongly.
• "Laphamii" The variety is distinguished by long-tubular flowers of dark purple color with rounded petals.
• Clouds of Perfume. Tall phlox with beautiful lilac flowers. The plant has a pleasant lavender aroma. The height of the turf reaches 25 cm. Flowering begins in June. The variety feels great in partial shade.
• "May Breeze" A tall plant with large white and lilac flowers. There are pale lilac stars in the center of the flowers.
• "Variegata" Variegated flower with green-white leaves. The height of the plant varies from 15 cm to 30 cm. Flowering occurs from the end of May and lasts a little more than a month. "Variegata" loves light and warmth, and stagnation of moisture is destructive for it. The variety is recommended for borders and alpine slides.
• Sternen Splitter. The variety has lilac petals with a dark purple star inside. The height of the plant reaches 40 cm.
• "Chattahoochee" The plant has dense foliage and a red eye. Phlox is recommended for growing in rich soils and is compact. The variety is suitable for creating rock gardens and rock gardens. The height of the plant does not exceed 25 cm, the inflorescences are raised. Abundant flowering begins in early spring, but if the heat sets in, it stops abruptly. Seedlings are often used for growing in pots.

• "Dirigo Ice" Phlox is characterized by rapid growth. The large flowers of the plant are creamy blue with a purple eye. The height of the curtains does not exceed 35 cm.
• Fuller's White. The plant reaches a height of only 25 cm. Phlox is compact. The flowers are white.
• Montrose Tricolor. The plant has leaves of green, white and pink colors, hence the name. Phlox flowers are bluish, the height of the curtains is 30 cm.

Reviews of phlox splayed

Summarizing the reviews of flower growers and landscape designers, we can conclude that the splayed phlox plant has the following advantages:

1. Can grow in shade and sun.
2. Unpretentiousness to soil composition.
3. It simply multiplies, takes root well and takes root.
4. Does not require special care efforts.
5. When flowering, it creates a continuous carpet.
6. Pairs perfectly with many colors.
7. It is a honey plant, the flowers have a wonderful aroma.

The disadvantages of splayed phlox include:

1. High susceptibility to diseases and pests.
2. Loss of decorative effect after flowering.
3. Low frost resistance, the need for shelter for the winter.

Spreading Phlox (Phlox divaricata) or as it is also called “Canadian” is native to North America and Canada, where it grows in forests, along streams and on gentle mountain slopes, which are covered in spring with magnificent flowering carpets of all shades of blue, white or lilac.

Due to its unpretentiousness and spectacular abundant flowering, this type of crop can be found in almost any garden. Flowering occurs in mid-to-late May and lasts almost a month.

Description of varieties and varieties of phlox

The plant belongs to the cyanaceae family. The genus “phlox” itself has 85 species, which, in turn, are divided into groups:

1. Bush (low and tall).
2. Creeping.
3. Loose turf.

The color of the petals, the shape of the leaves and inflorescences depend on the type and variety of the plant. We most often cultivate varieties from the transitional loose-drain group of phloxes. These plants creep and branch, and their flowering stems rise 30–35 cm. The group includes the following species:

• stoloniferous;
• Siberian;
• spread out;

Phlox blooming

• paniculate;
• rising;
• charming;
• smooth.

Phlox splayed (spread) includes 11 varieties and hybrids. The stems creeping along the ground easily take root, so the plant spreads over large areas. The petals are wide, tapering towards the middle. The color is mainly blue. Flowers with a diameter of 2–5 cm are collected in voluminous inflorescences. This species can grow in slightly shaded places on poor soils, is resistant to cold, and overwinters well without shelter.

The most popular varieties of spreading phlox:

• Chattahoochi, Digiro Ice, Blue Moon, Clouds of Perfume, Landen Grove, Blue Dreams (petal color: lavender, blue);
• Fullers White, White Perfume, divaricata f. alba (petals snow-white);
• May Breeze, Home Fires, Eco Tescas Purple (lilac and purple color scheme);

Variety Montrose Tricolor

• Montrose Tricolor (considered one of the best varieties of the species, three-colored leaves of the plant);
• Laphamia (cultivar with purple petals).

Flowering starts at the end of May and lasts about three weeks. Tall varieties bloom later, closer to autumn. Varieties and hybrid forms of splayed phlox are distinguished by a bright nectar aroma.

Reproduction and care

Phlox splayed is a low perennial plant with branching stems that lie at the base of bushes, the height of which is 20-30 cm. The formation of adventitious roots at the nodes of leaf stems promotes their rooting, especially when maintaining soil moisture.

Because of this feature, phlox grows quickly and is easily propagated by shoot cuttings - just cut off a young shoot and place it in a moist substrate. Another method of propagation is dividing overgrown bushes in early spring or autumn. The cuttings are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm and after a while they form beautiful clumps.

The plant prefers soil rich in humus or leaf humus, loose and permeable to moderate humidity. It grows well in both sun and partial shade under the canopy of trees and shrubs. A layer of mulch around the bushes in the summer helps retain moisture and prevents the roots from overheating. During the dry period, due to lack of moisture, the plant may go into hibernation, but next spring it will begin to grow again.

Powdery mildew can be a serious problem and to reduce the risk of fungal diseases developing around your plantings you should ensure good air circulation, avoid stagnant water and keep stems pruned. This procedure also promotes re-blooming.

Popular varieties in garden design are “Blue Moon” with blue-blue flowers, snow-white “White Perfume” and “Chattahoochee” with a pink spot in the center of the flower. The plant is used as a ground cover to decorate rockeries and alpine slides. In the sun, its companions are tulips, muscari, peonies. Plantings in shady areas of the garden with ferns, lilies of the valley, dicentra, hostas, and trillium look impressive, creating a real forest landscape.

Reproduction methods

You can propagate splayed phlox on a site using several methods:

1. Dividing the bush. An adult perennial can be carefully dug out of the ground in spring or early autumn and divided into 2-3 parts for planting. In this case, you need to try not to damage the roots.
2. By cuttings. In mid-May, you need to cut off a young strong shoot with 2 internodes from a phlox bush, plant it in moist soil and cover it with a glass jar on top. In a couple of months, the phlox will take root and will be able to bloom the next season.
3. By layering. This method of propagation is one of the easiest, since the stems of the perennial almost creep along the ground. One of the shoots needs to be lightly sprinkled with soil and moistened throughout the warm season; the cuttings will quickly take root. Next spring it can be planted.
4. Seeds. The growing procedure looks simple. The seeds are lightly buried in soil made of peat, sand, humus and deciduous soil, and then covered with film and the soil is regularly moistened until sprouts appear. But in fact, plants reproduce by seeds rather poorly, and germination takes a lot of time.

Most often, layering and dividing the bush are used for breeding phlox - these methods are the simplest and most effective. Cuttings and seed propagation require large energy costs.

Perennials are propagated vegetatively - by layering, cuttings and dividing the bush