Phlox subulate - planting and care in open ground, varieties with photos and descriptions

Description

Phlox subulata.
Phlox is a plant belonging to the ground cover perennial shrubs of the Sinyukov family.

Basic information about the plant:

• Height: from 15 to 17 cm, there are miniature plants from 5 cm in height, as well as varieties up to 21 cm in height;
• Stem: creeping (lying), green, hard. During the development of the plant, the stem can reach 0.5 m in length. The stem consists of many internodes, which, when in moist soil, often produce additional roots. Leaves grow along the entire length of the stems, which are located at a short distance from each other.
• Leaves: evergreen, opposite, small (1-2 cm long), narrow, very hard, with a pointed tip. The shape of the leaf, reminiscent of an awl, gave the plant its name.
• Flowers: small (diameter - up to 2 cm), consist of 5 petals. At the base they are connected and a tube is formed. Having opened, the petals form a flat corolla. The petals have different colors (white, cream, pink, bright red, blue, etc.), and two-color phloxes are often found. During flowering they emit a delicate aroma.
• Root system: fibrous, consists of many adventitious roots. Depth of occurrence - up to 15 cm.
• Flowering time: late May - early June. A second flowering period is possible - September.
• Names: The Latin name for awl-shaped phlox is phlox subulata. People also call it creeping, carpet, and also moss carnation.

History of the plant

This ornamental phlox is native to the eastern and central United States and was introduced in the late 1700s. John Bartram first described this species as one of the first "low-growing" phlox species to arrive in Britain. Pink, white and red garden varieties were known by 1850.

In the 19th century, these plants were considered one of the most widely used flowers.

Phlox is the national flower of Bolivia and Peru and is known as the “magic flower” and “sacred flower of the Incas.”

Varieties

Professional breeders have been engaged in subulate phlox for a long time. During this period, they created many interesting varieties that became popular among gardeners.

Candy Stripes

Phlox awl-shaped "Сandy stripes"

The original color of the petals is the main difference between the Candy Stripes variety. Their main color is white, it is almost completely covered by a wide stripe that has a pink tint. Candy is not tall, does not rise above 10 cm, blooms profusely, the diameter of the flowers is up to 2 cm. The flowers appear together, Candy blooms for a long time.

Emerald Cuchon Blue

Phlox awl-shaped “Emerald cushion blue”

The Emerald Cuchon Blue variety has several characteristic differences. Firstly, this is the color of the petals: they have a delicate purple color with a bluish tint. Secondly, the abundance of flowering. The flowers of Emerald Cuchon Blue are small (up to 15 to 20 mm in diameter), but so many of them bloom at the same time that green leaves and stems are not visible behind the beautiful and dense purple carpet. Thirdly, a bright, noticeable aroma.

Emerald Pink

Phlox subulate “Emerald pink”

In any area, the Emerald Pink phlox always catches the eye - its petals are colored pinkish with a reddish tint, and the center stands out in crimson color.

Scarlet Flame

Phlox awl-shaped “Scarlet flame”

Scarlet Flame flowers are quite large, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, and have a very bright, rich, even somewhat dark pink color, which corresponds to its name - “fiery”. This subshrub has a height of 15 cm, blooms twice: at the beginning of summer (May - June) and at the beginning of autumn (August - September).

Choosing a place and soil for planting

Phlox loves sunny places. But it will also feel fine in the shade. The main condition is less moisture. In wetlands the plant dies.

If possible, it is better to dilute the soil with sand. A drainage type of soil is welcome, however, this item is not necessary due to the unpretentiousness of the plant. The only thing worth considering is that if you plan to plant in black soil, which will often be moistened, you can’t really count on flowering.

It is also worth noting the plant’s love for the wind. Phlox should not be planted between tall plants or walls, because of which air masses will not pass through it.

Possible methods of reproduction

To propagate phlox subulate, you can use one of three methods.

1. Seeds

Using seeds for propagation is not the most common method. This is due to the small number of seeds appearing in the seed pod after flowering. On average, there are 2-3 seeds in one box. Typically, seed propagation is used by the subshrub itself, when new plants appear with the help of self-sowing seeds. If the gardener managed to collect or purchase seeds, they need to be planted in a container in the fall. A small flat container is filled with a mixture of soil, humus, and sand. The seed pods are laid shallow (1.5 cm) and the container is left in a cool place (cellar, balcony). To create natural conditions, they cover it with snow before the New Year. Over the winter, the sprouts germinate, at the beginning of spring (March) they can be planted in a greenhouse, and in April they will be planted in a permanent place in the ground.

1. Dividing the bush

Often the only method used for propagation in garden plots is dividing bushes. In this way, you can increase the planting of a specific variety and a certain color scheme. The bushes can be divided in April. The procedure is not difficult; to do this, you need to select a well-grown bush.

• The bush chosen for division is carefully dug up.
• The dug bush is divided into parts so that each has roots.
• The parts separated from the bush are planted in a designated place.

1. Cuttings

In spring (early April) and summer (after flowering), you can use another method of propagating phlox subulate - cuttings. The subshrub has a high survival rate, so it does not require complex actions or special preparation when cutting. Any shoot can become a cutting. It is desirable that it have several roots from the internode, but their absence will not hurt: the cutting will take root on its own. Those parts of the shoots that were broken off when dividing the bush can also become cuttings.

1. Rooting pinned shoots

From the growing stems of phlox, you can get several new plants. This is facilitated by the rapid appearance of roots on those parts of the stem that happen to be lying directly on wet soil. This feature is used for reproduction. The selected stem is laid on the ground and sprinkled with soil in the place that will become the center of the new bush. After rooting, the new subshrub is cut off from the old plant.

Video “Spring phlox - subulate phlox”

How to properly divide a five-year-old phlox bush

To obtain cuttings, five-year-old bushes are used. As they grow, the stems become lignified in the middle part, forming a bare area. Dividing the bush promotes its rejuvenation.

This operation is carried out in mid-August. Carefully remove the rhizome from the ground and divide it into several parts so that each has a sufficient number of stems and a developed root system. Use the same planting algorithm as described above, only add a little humus or rotted compost to the hole. It will help better rooting.

Planting phlox awl-shaped

Phlox is one of the most convenient plants for gardeners. They are unpretentious, take root well, and do not require special care. But certain rules for planting and caring for the plant must be followed in order to achieve its lush flowering.

Selecting a location

For all its undemanding nature, phlox subulate has its own preferences for the planting site. The plant feels best in sunny places with well-drained soil. If the plant is planted in areas with heavy soil, it is necessary to dilute it with sand. In partial shade you can also achieve good flowering, but you need to make sure that the soil is not too wet: phlox suffers in wetlands and areas with high humidity. Poor or rocky soil will not cause problems for the plant; phlox will easily master it and cover it with a beautiful carpet. The plant develops better on neutral soils.

Landing

Before planting, a planting hole is prepared for the semi-shrub. The order of its filling: drainage (expanded clay, pebbles), a mixture of soil with humus and a small amount of ash. Seedlings, cuttings or parts of a bush are dipped in the Kornevin solution, and then planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other so that each bush has room for the stems that will soon appear.

When planting in early spring, when the soil is still moist, additional watering of the planted plants is not required. If the cuttings are planted later, when the soil has already become dry, it is moistened around the planted cuttings. In this case, you need to be careful not to overfill the cuttings. The planted cuttings are covered with a non-woven cloth and left for several days (up to 1 week) for the cuttings to take root.

Growing conditions

Subulate varieties of phlox do not have any special requirements other than lighting. The most important factor is to provide them with a highly sunny position. In partial shade they bloom poorly or not at all, become very thin, lose their good shape, and may begin to hurt.

The perennial has no special soil requirements. The natural habitat of the plant is sandy soils. In the garden, ordinary garden soil is sufficient for it, if it is permeable.

Phlox grows better on soils:

• water-permeable;
• sandy;
• fertile;
• moderately humid.

Phloxes do not like soil:

• very wet;
• cold;
• heavy;
• clayey.

Plants do not have exorbitant needs for water and tolerate temporary drought well, although they look more beautiful and grow better if they are watered regularly.

Although awl-shaped varieties of phlox are considered resistant to diseases and pests, in unfavorable conditions they can get sick, become weak, and vulnerable. A shaded area often leads to the development of fungal pathogens.

Care

Phlox subulate variety "Aurora"

Growing and caring for phlox subulate includes traditional procedures.

Watering

Moderation when watering is one of the conditions for the successful development of the plant. This beautiful subshrub is hardy and can tolerate short dry periods. Excess moisture becomes more problematic for the plant and can lead to root rot and plant diseases. Therefore, water the flowers sparingly after the top layer of soil dries out. In dry summers, watering is done once every 2-3 days; the rest of the time, it is enough to water phlox subulate once a week.

Weeding

Growing and caring for decorative shrubs is not complete without systematic weeding. The soil is cleared of weeds before planting, trying to remove the roots present in the soil mixture. In the future, the plant is weeded regularly.

Top dressing

During the season you need to fertilize the phlox several times. This will prolong flowering and make the plant strong and hardy. Most often, gardeners feed the plant with liquid manure; a small amount (25 g) is diluted in 10 liters of water. You can also use mineral fertilizers.

Trimming

In spring, you can prune the plant. This will allow you to form a beautiful bush. When pruning at other times (summer, autumn), the buds present on the shoots are removed, which leads to problems next year. Timely removal of corollas that have bloomed and dried out ensures a second flowering (August - September).

Video “Phlox awl-shaped - planting, care and reproduction”

How to care for phlox at home?

The awl-shaped phlox requires little care and is easy to grow even for a beginner. But in order to get lush color from the crop, you should adhere to certain standards.

• The soil must be nutritious and drained. The latter is ensured even before landing. If the soil is heavy, you should definitely mix it with sand or something similar.
• In the spring, after the plants begin to emerge from winter, they are watered with a weak solution of humus. It stimulates the beginning of flowering and development of the root system.
• Weeding is needed at first, while the plant is just developing and has not yet “invaded” the area, since then it will be impossible to do it. During weeding, weeds are also removed.

Important!

In one place this plant can live up to 10 years. But experienced gardeners recommend updating it once every 6 years, since with age it “gets old” and loses its decorative qualities.

• Watering needs to be timely, moderate, and not very frequent. Only during droughts it is carried out as often as possible - the main thing is that the soil does not dry out and does not crust over (crack).
• Phlox grow chaotically, therefore, if a clearly defined area is allocated for their growth, you need to carry out competent care at home. So, as the plant grows, the stems are bent in the right directions, and those that go where they shouldn’t are cut off.
• Feeding is needed in mid-summer. Complex minerals are used (with an abundance of nitrogen and potassium), but if you want to use organic matter, you can take an infusion of wood ash.
• To encourage reblooming and improve the appearance of the flower cover, trim the flower stalks after they have dried. This does not give guarantees, but it stimulates the plant to bloom again and increase the amount of green mass.
• For the winter, if a significant drop in temperatures is expected, subulate phloxes are covered with mulch.

Disease and pest control

Phlox subulate is a fairly strong plant that is resistant to many diseases.

Most often, help is required for shrubs that show signs of powdery mildew (lethargy, slow development, reduced flowering). It is necessary to begin an urgent fight against this fungal disease. To stop its development, not only diseased plants are removed from plantings, but also the top layer of soil where they grew. After this, the soil and remaining flowers are treated with any antifungal drug.

To prevent the appearance of powdery mildew, you can carry out preventive treatment of the plantings in the spring, before flowering. For this, Bordeaux mixture is used, and Topaz is also treated before and after flowering.

The plant's pests are spider mites. Spots first appear on the leaves, then the entire leaf dries out. The stems are often attacked by caterpillars, and nematodes are another pest. When pests appear, it is necessary to remove the plants damaged by them and treat the remaining plantings with special preparations (Aktrofit, etc.).

Caring for a plant in the garden

Caring for our tropical guest is not particularly difficult. The exotic is so unpretentious that even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation. In addition to standard weed removal, flower growers should take care of the correct watering schedule and timely fertilizing.

Watering

The North American does not tolerate excess moisture, so the watering regime should be as moderate as possible. The procedure is carried out in the absence of sun - early in the morning or after sunset. Watering should be done strictly at the root, because water that gets on the buds and leaves can cause burns and spoil the fragrant flowers. In hot weather, maintain a moderate watering regime, but make it abundant. For 1 meter of planting you will need about 15-20 liters of water.

Important! You can water awl-shaped phloxes only with warm water. Cold liquid, especially on hot days, will cause the stems to crack.

Top dressing

In order for the bushes to please with the splendor and abundance of flowers, it is worth taking care of feeding. Follow the following fertilization schedule:

1. Beginning of the growing season. After hibernation, fertilizing with humates is carried out. They stimulate growth and will help phlox recover faster.
2. During the budding period, a potassium-phosphorus complex is introduced. These microelements will have a beneficial effect on the formation of flower stalks.
3. After flowering ends, you can fertilize with a full complex.
4. During the entire growth period, root and surface fertilizing with an ash solution can be carried out. It contains no nitrogen, which promotes abundant foliage growth but has a detrimental effect on flowering.

To prepare an ash solution, boil 300 grams of ash in two liters of water. Boiling time 10 minutes. The prepared extract must be cooled, filtered and the volume brought to 10 liters.

On a note! An ash solution can prevent pest attacks. Feel free to use it as a foliar feeding.

Using phlox awl-shaped in decorating an area

Phlox awl-shaped will become a real decoration of a rock garden

This beautiful shrub has found wide application in garden design. It is often used to create beautiful alpine slides or bright lawns. Given the plant's short stature, it looks good as a border that decorates garden paths or grows between path tiles. Phlox is appropriate in flower beds and flowerpots, in single plantings, in combination with other flowers (sedum, snapdragon, bell) or cereals. Phlox awl-shaped on the site is a beauty for many years!

Application in landscape design

Due to the variety of shades of flowers, compactness of the bush and undemanding nature, awl-shaped phlox is actively used in landscape design. This flower in the garden can be not only a background, but also an accent in the center of any flower bed.

The plant is suitable for creating low borders along paths in the garden.

It is used in rock gardens, rockeries and mixborders.

The culture is in perfect harmony with the stones.

Phloxes look quite colorful next to carnations, periwinkles, and sedums.

Knowing how to grow phlox subulate, you can get a beautiful plant that can decorate your garden plot, forming a continuous carpet on the lawn. A bright and bewitching flower will cause a lot of admiring glances and pleasant compliments.

How to plan a flower bed

A naturally beautiful plot or flowerbed will not work if you don’t plan everything in advance.

Considering that phlox is a creeping shrub, it needs to be given an appropriate role. If you are planning a flowerbed in which there will be nothing except phlox, then there is nothing special to plan, you just need to plant it in accordance with the recommendations.

But if the flowerbed is located on an artificial hill, next to a fountain and other elements, it is important to give the phlox its due place. For example, a popular solution is when the subulate frames the perimeter of the flowerbed. If the flowerbed is elevated, it beautifully plays with the shape and continues to spread downwards.

Important! Phlox should be planted away from water - excess can adversely affect development.

Phlox flower bed