Lohlodern phlox - “medium” in size and flowering time

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Among garden phlox fans, there are both lovers of groundcover and lushly flowering shrub plants. The third group of phloxes - the loose-hearted - deprived of attention and for a long time remained in the shadow of their competitors. Due to the return to fashion landscape styles, special, beautifully flowering, occupying a kind of intermediate link between the two main classes, these phloxes are again returning to the lists of fashionable cultures. There are many advantages to lochodern phlox. And not the last of them is simple care. Although the average flowering time should not be forgotten.

Content:

Description of lochodern phlox
Two types of loose phlox
Frozen phlox in garden design
The conditions for the cultivation of loose phlox
Care for loose phlox
Propagation of Lochlodern Phlox

Description of lochodern phlox

Isolation of loose-blood phlox into a separate group is attributed to the legendary domestic breeder P.G. Gaganov. Such a classification is more characteristic of the domestic school and literature, but species belonging to the number of lochlodern phloxes are regarded as special and easily recognizable also in the West.

Lochlodern phlox - phlox species that are characterized by the same form of growth in the form of a loose turf formed from creeping vegetative and upright generative shoots. Non-blooming, densely branching, stems lying on the ground release a lot of flowering shoots, creating special lush cushion bushes. With a height of vertically rising shoots of only 30-35 cm, the plants are medium-tall, quite compact and dense. These phloxes cannot be classified either as creeping or ground cover species, or as bush species, because the nature of their growth is completely different.

Many gardeners consider frikhlodernovye phlox a kind of "average" or a combined option between two other categories of phlox. They, indeed, partially possess the characteristics of both bush and creeping species, and at the same time are absolutely unique. This status is also confirmed by the flowering period: blooming only in late May or early June, lochlodern phloxes enter the garden scene when carpet plants are already finishing their parade, and bush plants are just about to bloom. These are phloxes that are “average” in size, flowering time and plentiful color.

Two types of loose phlox

Only two types of plants are considered to be loose phloxes, which are used as decorative crops in modern landscape design. But both of them are almost irreplaceable for him.

Phlox splayed (Phlox divaricata), known in the West as wild blue phlox, a landscape plant that came to us from North America from among quite spectacular plants that can grow in arrays and carpets of medium-sized phlox. The height of the turf of this herbaceous perennial is limited to 30 cm. Lying vegetative shoots can form subordinate roots in the nodes of the leaves, they are vertical, slender, straight, unbranched.

The leaves of this type of phlox are lanceolate or oval-lanceolate, with a pointed apex, whole, sit opposite, surprise by touch and velvety, and stiff. The maximum leaf length is up to 5 cm. The medium-green color allows the phlox splayed to stand out effectively against the background of other perennials. Due to the narrow leaves, the curtains do not seem too thick, look airy, spreading, translucent, often quite messy, and this property allows us to call this type of phlox one of the best for landscape compositions and natural, natural accents.

Blooming panicled phlox does not seem so catchy and spectacular. Loose brushes, in which up to 10 two-centimeter flowers are collected, crown the shoots. A unique shade of lilac-blue, resembling light periwinkle, makes flowers especially touching. A delicate aroma attracts insects. Elegant teardrop-shaped, notched petals are decorated with a dark eye. The flowering phase of the spread phlox lasts from late spring to mid summer, depending on the weather. On average, flowering lasts from 3 to 4.5 weeks.

This type of phlox is one of the most popular among breeders. With the "participation" of the spread phlox, several dozen hybrid plants were obtained, which today are considered as separate species. In horticultural culture, the base plant is not found as often as varieties. Of the decorative forms, only snow-white alba and pink fuchsia rosea. The best cultivated phlox spread out belong to:

"Dirigo Ice" - An interesting large-flowered variety with a unique cream color tint, surprising at a powerful growth rate;
"Blue Perfume" - light blue, with a lilac hue variety with a very strong aroma and amazingly bright greens;
"Blue Dreams" - light lavender, with a cold shade of color and a very fragrant variety with bright leaves and accelerated growth;
"Clouds of Perfume" - lavender, with a warm shade of color fragrant variety with dark leaves;
"Montrose Tricolor" - periwinkle-blue variety with variegated leaves, decorated with a white border around the edge;
"Violet Queen" - light purple variety with dark buds and grayish leaves;
"Chattahoochee" - the legendary dark purple variety with a bright purple eye, famous for its modest size and moodiness;
"Laphamii" - An even darker, purple-flowered variety with unusual, round petals and an elongated tube in the flowers.

Phlox is stolonous, creeping or shoot-bearing (Phlox stolonifera) Is also an American species of phlox, widely represented in the United States and considered one of the most striking local plants. The height of the bushes is about 30 cm, they seem amazingly dense and lush, they conquer both the texture, the beauty of the turf pattern, and the wintering leaves. Non-flowering shoots spread, densely branching and rooting in nodes, which only enhances the effect of density.

The plant is constantly expanding, forming entire massifs, can develop large free areas, but not too aggressive in relation to other herbaceous perennials. The leaves of the stony-bearing phlox are oval, simple, up to 6 cm in length with a muffled forest dark green color. Matte green underlines the density of the turf.

Flower-bearing shoots are straight, vertical, from 20 to 30 cm in height. Flowering shoots are crowned with dense inflorescences, in which up to 10 flowers can be collected. Thanks to the multiflowering, the bushes seem to be covered with a hat from umbrella shields. Thin pedicels emphasize the beauty of individual flowers. The flowers are medium-sized, up to 2 cm in diameter, but on such a plant seem amazingly spectacular. Candy pink, with a cold tint, the color looks very fresh.

Stoniferous phlox has a number of varieties that have become much more popular than the original species plant, mainly due to brighter colors and accelerated ability to grow and fill the free soil. The best varieties of this type of phlox are:

"Ariane" - white-flowered variety with snow-white, almost round and denser inflorescences;
"White Ridge" - white-flowered, delicate variety with very dense inflorescences, surprising with a dark cold shade of green color;
"Pink Ridge" - pink, with a cold lilac-pink color of flowers, a variety in which peduncles rise above fairly bright leaves higher than in other varieties;
"Blue Ridge" - a variety that shows off with light lilac, with a lavender tint flowers, blooming relatively late in June, but it blooms for more than one month

Frozen phlox in garden design

The beautiful texture of loose phlox allows them to be used as a framing plant. In strict ribbons, stolonosny and splayed phloxes can not be planted, but here they are more than suitable for creating soft frames, natural transitions, decorating the front edge of compositions with soft lines. These plants perfectly frame landscape groups and arrays, can be used to decorate the front edge of flower beds and mixborders, fill the soil.

Thick, spectacular, looking at the same time both natural and catchy, turfs of phloxes of the loose-type are as if created to decorate rock gardens. They create completely different texture spots than carpet phloxes, bring volume and interesting transitions to rocky kindergartens.

But it is worth placing the lochlodern phlox so that they do not suffer from excessive heat and sun - in shady places, in extreme cases - on the western or eastern side of the alpine hills. These phloxes feel great in large boulders and can be used in terracing.

Lochlora phlox is an excellent groundcover. They can fill in voids, gaps or entire platforms, create spots in patterned lawns or bring an interesting game of textures to clearings from ground covers that they are not going to walk on. They are also indispensable as an alternative to classic low rugs at the edge or to fill the soil between decorative shrubs and trees.

There will be a place for widespread and stolononochny phlox and water bodies. They are often included in coastal landings, but the plants reveal their special beauty at streams.

All loose phlox can be grown for cutting for bright inflorescences. They are suitable for decorating potted gardens and mixed flower arrangements.

Partners for looselox phlox can be selected from any plant that also has similar growing conditions. They are not afraid of the proximity of soil protectors, bulbous, herbaceous perennials, ornamental shrubs or dwarf trees.

Primroses, Lungworms, Tulips, Thyme, Cleanse, Wormwood, Pansies, Heichera, Frankincense, Euphorbia, Stubble, Irises, Saxifrages and Carnations emphasize the beauty of the lochlodern phloxes. Interesting duets are obtained from the phlox spread out with forget-me-nots, navyavniki, geraniums, hosts. Creeping conifers, spirea, barberries, surrounded by phloxes, seem surprisingly textured.

Growing conditions for lochodern phlox

One of the main advantages and key feature of loose-hearted phloxes is the love of secluded lighting. Unlike species from the other two groups, frilodern phlox loves shading. In nature, phlox and spreading phlox are used to shady and fairly moist places, and they do not change their character in garden culture, but with proper care, they demonstrate amazing plasticity.

Phlox is spread less sensitive to the sun. It can be planted almost anywhere - from shade to partial shade and sunny areas. Phlox stolononosny in sunny southern locations do not plant. Choosing a place for loose-water phlox, it is worth stopping at such sites in which plants will not suffer from the midday sun and strong drafts.

Despite the reputation of more hardy and unpretentious plants, loose-water phlox is quite demanding on soils. They bloom profusely only on nutrient soil and require its high-quality processing before planting. Phlox spread wide is much less demanding on the soil, it grows even on poor, stony and dry soil.

But still, the full beauty of flowering can be observed only if either the original nutritional value of the soil, or high-quality nutrition. Lohlodern phlox loves moist or fresh, but not raw, neutral or slightly acidic, organic soils. Sandstones are preferred for these types of phloxes.

It is not necessary to prepare the place for planting loose phlox phlox in advance. But deep digging with the introduction of organic fertilizers (compost or humus in the amount of 1 bucket per square meter) allows plants to quickly adapt and actively develop. Phloxes are planted carefully, to the same depth at which they grew before, immediately mulching the plantings with any available materials and providing supporting irrigation in a drought to accelerate rooting.

Care for loose phlox

Unlike bush phlox, frilodernaceae do not require complex fertilizing for their spectacular flowering. For them, it is enough to take care of watering during the flowering period, several top dressings and weeding.

Watery phlox phlox is watered only during a drought. For these plants, the period of preparation for flowering and flowering itself is critical: if plants experience a lack of moisture, the total flowering time will be reduced. Phlox is rarely watered, deeply soaking the soil, only when there is not enough natural rainfall.

For lochodern phlox, top dressing is carried out 1-3 times per season. Usually enough early spring top dressing with full mineral fertilizer or a solution of organic fertilizers in a standard amount. If you want to get the most effective flowering or grow phlox for cutting, then top dressing is carried out three times with nitrogen fertilizers in early spring, during budding or at the beginning of flowering with potassium phosphate fertilizers, and after flowering with full mineral fertilizer.

Weed weeding, combined with careful loosening of the soil, allows you to maintain optimal water and air permeability and allows phlox to grow actively. Weeds are not afraid of kurtinkas: weeding is carried out around plants.

The loose-hearted phlox loves mulching. For them, you can choose both organic fertilizers and decorative mulch. Update the mulch layer 1-2 times a year.

They do not need protection for the winter, but young plants, as well as varieties with unknown winter hardiness, are better insulated from snowless periods by additional mulching with dry leaves. They create a protective layer only after freezing the soil and remove it after the first warming, not allowing the turf to melt.

Propagation of Lochlodern Phlox

Phloxes of this group do not form or practically do not form seeds. Propagate them only vegetatively. The most popular option is the separation of adult curtains. Only lochlodern phloxes are separated in spring, into large delenes with powerful roots. Dense turfs should be cut with a knife or a shovel. Plants are not afraid of transplantation, but require careful care and maintenance of stable humidity to accelerate development in the summer.

You can get new plants and rooting layering. Along the edge of the sod, shoots are laid and fixed in the soil, hilling the rooting site with nutritious soil and maintaining constant moisture to accelerate rooting. The resulting plants are separated from the mother bush next spring.

Before and after flowering of looselox phlox, stem cuttings can be cut, leaving 3-4 internodes and necessarily removing lateral shoots and lower leaves. In light, nutritious soil mixtures under a greenhouse, cuttings root quickly enough. They are buried at an angle to a depth of about 3 cm. Planting of plants in new places is carried out in the spring of next year.