For May, 1921 



577 



Spring Flowering Phloxes 



RICHARD ROTHE 



I AM well aware of the climatic advantage of the 

 north in regard to mid-Summer eti'ects of flowering- 

 hardy perennials. For Spring and Fall, however, 

 conditions are more favorable in Middle Atlantic and 

 Central States. Close observation as time passes shows 



Phlox stilndata rosea 



a keener realization of the splendid opportunities for the 

 future. The steadily increasing demand for Spring- 

 flowering Phloxes is one evidence. As a mere ground 

 covering on dry, sunny slopes they prove wellmgh in- 

 dispensable. The most convincing demonstration of the 

 ornamental value of this low and dense growing and 

 creeping type of plants are the vernal sheets of color in 

 snowv white, light and dark pink, various shades nt 

 lavender, carmine, and magenta red. produced by tli. 

 blossoms of Phlox siibiilafa. aniirna. anJ. oiata cardiua 



I'lilo.v ovald Carolina 



when we see them in reality. For climatic reasons, de- 

 prived of the enjoyment of the wonderful arrays of the 

 blossoms produced by the mossy Saxifragas and a host of 



other beautiful strictly Alpine plant species, it is chiefly 

 by means of a free employment of our own native moun- 

 tain Phloxes that we are able to maintain a vernal color 

 gayety in our rock gardens approaching in richness the 

 European aspects. Reliable to endure the hot mid-Sum- 

 mer month without harm, they very rarely suffer under 



a light covering in Winter. 



This covering is most es- 



sential in March, when the soil under a thick mass of 

 creeping growth remains in a solid frozen state while 

 the warm sunravs disastrously urge vegetation and root- 

 action. Of the garden varieties of Phlox snbahita, I men- 

 tion alba and Nelsoni as the best white ; Uhicina flowers 

 ]5ale lilac : the blossoms of Bridesmaid are white, purplish 

 tinted ; those of atropiirpurca purplish rose, while subu- 

 hila rosea is covered by a mantle of bright pink hue. 



Phlox aimvna, a species seven to tight inches high can 

 l:e used for Spring bedding or for edging purposes on 

 perennial borders. In the rockery its masses of vivid car- 

 mine pink flowers attract attention at a glance. Leading 

 in general popularity, however, is Phlox divaricata cana- 

 densis. Its swaying masses of pure, pale blue panicles are 

 todav a feature of nearlv everv garden. The color of the 



/ lUi'v tn: ■nHota toiiath'u.sis 



flowers of the variety divaricata Laphanii is a trifle darker 

 in shade. Less known but well worth its space is Phlox 

 ovata Carolina a species producing purplish pink flowers 

 on stems nearly a foot high. Closing my notes I wish to 

 call attention to Phlox pilosa, one of the most useful va- 

 rieties for grouping as well as for rock garden planting. 

 In bright sunlight its masses of clear rosy lavender flow- 

 ers borne on stems from twelve to sixteen inches are e.x- 

 Iraordinarily elTcctive. 



-Ml the taller growing varieties mentioned should Ije 

 lit back after flowering to insure a strong bushy growth 

 mar the rootstock and a green appearance throughout the 

 Liter ])art of the season. The creeping siibulafa type 

 rarely needs any cutting back at all. Spring-flowering 

 phloxes prefer a light loamy soil of sufifivicnt moisture re- 

 taining humus. Propagating is done by division or cut- 

 tings in mid-Summer. .\s a rtile seed production is not 

 very abundant and for this reason seeds are rarely ob- 

 tainable. 



