Representative of the North American flora “moss carnation” or subulate phlox – magnificent garden flower, endowed with evergreen foliage that persists even under the snow, bright colors flower stars, unpretentiousness, won the hearts of Russian flower growers. Primordial biological species It is not found in gardens; only artificially bred varieties and hybrids are grown. The compact form of the plant finds numerous uses in landscape design.

Ground cover plants of the Phlox subulate species, classified as beautiful flowering plants herbaceous plants Phlox genus of the Polemoniaceae family, perennial, frost-resistant.

Adult plants are a dense “carpet”, woven from numerous stems, growing up to half a meter in length and up to 20 cm in height, densely covered with needle-shaped short opposite leaves up to 2.5 cm, of a juicy malachite-green color, retaining their decorative appearance all year round.

During flowering, the creeping shoots are densely strewn with small tubular flowers 1.5-2 cm in diameter, located on one or several peduncles, solitary or collected in inflorescences. The flat, star-shaped corolla of the flower is formed by 5 petals different colors: white, pink, red, blue, purple, two-color, has a delicate aroma.

Flowering is early - May or early June, depending on the variety and region of growth, abundant (sometimes even leaves are not visible due to the flowers), long-lasting - up to 3-4 weeks. At favorable conditions in September they bloom again, but less abundantly.

The fibrous root system of flowers is small, superficial, consisting of short adventitious roots up to 5-10 cm, which allows them to grow even on rocky slopes with a small layer of soil and grow widely to the sides.

Due to its structure, the awl-shaped phlox takes over the entire area provided to it in a short period of time.

Phlox awl-shaped can grow in one place for up to 5 years without losing its decorative properties.

Popular varieties:

All varieties of subulate phlox were bred by foreign breeders. They differ in color shade and care methods.

Popular among Russian gardeners:

• White Delight. Large (up to 2.5 cm) monochromatic snow-white flowers, the plant is unpretentious to the composition and acidity of the soil, blooms twice per season (May-June, August-September);
• Emerald Cushn Blue. Not too growing, compact bush with small flowers, about 1.5 cm, of a bluish-lilac hue. Prefers sandy, drained soils;
• Scarlet Flame. Large flower corollas up to 2 cm have a dark pink tint, located on 10-15 cm peduncles, although the name of the awl-shaped phlox Scarlet Flame is translated as “scarlet radiance”. Not a demanding variety, but in well-drained sunny areas it blooms brighter and more abundantly;
• Candy Stripes. Two-color white and pink petals, peduncle height 10 cm, bush grows up to 60 cm in diameter. Sufficiently frost-resistant.

All varieties and hybrids of the subulate group of creeping phlox species are unpretentious and unusually decorative.

Plant propagation methods

The special structure of the vegetative organs of awl-shaped phloxes contributes to various methods of reproduction.

Dividing the bush. In early spring or autumn after flowering the most favorable time reproduction. Short and numerous suction roots allow you to dig it out of the ground and divide it into parts without much damage to the plant. The prepared cuttings are immediately planted in place.

Reproduction by layering. The shoots of the awl-shaped phlox are endowed with knees; by pressing the knee to the moist soil and pinning it from the knee, new roots will soon appear. The rooted shoot is separated from common bush and changes to permanent place.

Reproduction stem cuttings. The cuttings are prepared before the budding stage. Favorable period is early spring. Cut the shoots with 2-3 internodes, leaving 2-3 cm of stem under the bottom node. Plant the cuttings in a container with moistened soil mixture, sticking them into the sand up to the first node.

Soil composition:

• bottom layer (7 cm) – sand mixed with humus;
• the top layer (5 cm) is one sand.

The cutting is stuck into the sand without touching the fertile layer. Plantings are shaded. A kind of “greenhouse” is being built. The cuttings are ventilated daily and watered as the top layer of soil dries.

Seeds. Most varieties of phlox produce a large number of seeds. They can also reproduce by self-sowing. Collected seeds are sown immediately because they quickly lose their viability. Usually they are sown in the fall directly into the ground to a depth of 2 cm. Freezing of the soil does not reduce their germination. In spring, seedlings are planted like any other seedlings. Flowering of awl-shaped phloxes grown from seeds occurs much later than those propagated by any other method.

Planting subulate phlox

Due to the flower’s unpretentiousness to soil composition, ease of reproduction, excellent survival rate, undemanding specific care, incredible decorativeness makes the plant more and more popular. For greater decorativeness and longer flowering, certain growing conditions will still need to be observed.

The soil. The ideal soil for planting is loose, low nutritional soil, without stagnant water; on the contrary, phlox is drought-resistant. A flower planted in fertile soil will be thick and juicy, but weakly blooming. Too wet soil threatens fungal diseases, and spring soaking of roots is extremely dangerous.

You also need to take care of acidity. Those that are too acidic must be limed; add sand or another disintegrant to heavy soils.

Weeds are the scourge of awl-shaped phlox plantings. They must be removed before planting the plant; then, when a dense “carpet” grows, it will not be possible to weed it without causing harm to the bush.

Location. The decorative value of phlox increases in a sunny, elevated place. It is worth taking into account winter frosts, although phlox is considered winter-hardy, a decent layer of snow will not hurt.

Landing. There are no special recommendations for planting. Considering the shallow growth of the roots, only 5-10 cm, make a hole and root the seedling, firmly pressing the soil near the stem. To protect the tender roots from direct sunlight, sprinkle the soil with compost; it is also a good top dressing.

To create a large “carpet” area, the cuttings are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. Good survival rate will allow the seedlings to grow and create a continuous flowering composition in 1-2 years.

Caring for flowers in the open ground

The main care consists of feeding the bushes with fertilizer. In the spring, before flowering, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are required; the addition of humus stimulates the growth of new shoots. During flowering and in mid-summer, complex fertilizing is used.

Wood ash is both an excellent fertilizer and protection against pests for phlox, spraying the green mass, and at the same time as foliar feeding.

Ash solution:

• Dissolve 300 g of ash in 2 liters of water, boil for about 10 minutes;
• cool, strain, dilute the resulting mixture with water to 10 liters of solution.

You should be careful when fertilizing phlox - do not overfeed, otherwise flowering will be poor.

In hot, dry summers, watering is necessary, the regularity depends on the soil - it must dry out well.

Experienced gardeners suggest removing faded inflorescences and forming a bush by trimming dry, unsightly stems.

After 5 years of staying in one place, it is recommended to rejuvenate phloxes by transplanting them to another place with revision of the roots, since with age, like all flowers, phloxes lose their decorative value and can accumulate diseases.

Protection from diseases and pests

All varieties of phlox subulate rarely get sick, but can be affected by powdery mildew, nematodes, caterpillars, slugs and other garden inhabitants and bacteria.

Copper-containing preparations, for example, treatment with Bordeaux mixture in early spring and late autumn. If signs of a bacterial disease (spotting) appear, immediately remove the affected parts and burn them, treat the bushes with fungicides.

It is necessary to treat flowers with immunomodulators: Fitosporin, Zircon, Ecogel, increasing the plant’s resistance to infections.

Mandatory processing planting material(especially imported) disinfectants Maxim and Vitaros can prevent many troubles.

Combination with other plants

Subulate phloxes are good in single plantings: the floral splendor of varieties, selected according to shade, makes a combination that is pleasing to the eye, but also in the form of “ patchwork quilt"look good too.

They are just as good as color accents, for example, planted in an old stump or in a crevice in a stone wall.

Phlox goes well with all spring flowers, other ground covers, snapdragons, and sedums.

Considering the decorative emerald greenery of the dense plexus of stems, phlox can serve good shelter from overheating of the roots and drying out of the soil, such as clematis or lilies. Bright floral lights serve to fill the free space between daylilies and similar single flowers.

Next to conifers, awl-shaped phloxes are simply irresistible.

Subulate phlox in landscape design

Phlox subulates are a godsend for landscape designers. The velvety quality of the ground cover is aesthetically pleasing even after flowering and is used by florists in various variations.

An indispensable plant in rock gardens, rock gardens, microborders, for decorating gardens in various styles.

The bushes planted along the paths are also practical in nature; they do not allow the soil to slide onto the surface, creating an original border.

In flowerpots, phlox takes on an ampel shape and can be used to decorate balconies and terraces.

Floral pillows will create bright accent on the spring lawn.

Growing different varieties and colors allows you to decorate the area with a minimum of effort and giving free rein to your imagination.

​Similar articles​

​The main condition is considered to be a large amount of light and solar heat.​

​Maischnee (Maishnee) - the diameter of a snow-white flower, in the shape of a wheel, is 1.5 cm. Height is 8-10 cm. This is the most beautiful and widespread white variety Phlox. Contrastes and complements other colorful plants in your garden.​

Phlox is very often attacked by powdery mildew and various caterpillars that damage the stem of the plant.

Phloxes reproduce vegetatively and by seeds. The easiest and most common way to propagate phlox is by dividing the bush.

​It is enough to plant young phloxes at a distance of twenty-five centimeters from each other and in a year they will form a continuous carpet. To speed up the growth process, you need to spread the stems in the right direction. And then secure them well to the ground.​

​Also, rocky slopes and an alpine hill are perfect for their livelihoods.​

Many gardeners love awl-shaped phloxes because they remain emerald green from spring to autumn, and even under the first snow.

​If neither you nor your neighbors have a single bush to take cuttings from, then you can try to grow such a miracle on your own plot from seeds. Seeds are usually sown in open ground at the end of winter. Shoots should appear in early spring, and after the development of two or four leaves, the plants are transplanted. It is necessary to monitor the soil, it must be moist.

​For planting phlox subulate, it is better to choose sunny corners of your flower garden; in partial shade its flowering will not be so abundant;

Phlox awl-shaped (planting and care do not require special conditions content) can be planted even in autumn. True, you cannot delay planting in the ground: if the flowers do not have time to take root, they will die in the winter.​

​Perennial (subulate) phloxes are very loved by gardeners and landscape designers. This is not surprising: being enough unpretentious plants, they have many types of a wide variety of colors.​

Phlox awl-shaped is considered a plant that loves dryness. An abundance of moisture is harmful to it. Therefore, it is considered a grave mistake to try to grow it in damp areas. The flowers look weak, do not create a green carpet effect and die quickly.​

​Netteleto Variegata (Nettleton Variegata) – diameter pink flower equal to 1.7 cm. Carpet height 10 cm. This is a variety with variegated leaves (dark green with an edge that changes color from whitish-pink to bright pink in the sun).

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Phlox subulate

​Infestation by caterpillars can be identified by curled brownish leaves. Affected areas must be removed immediately.​

​Caring for phlox comes down to weeding, rare watering and fertilizing three times a day: before flowering, during the period of plant growth, you need to feed with potassium-nitrogen fertilizers, and by the middle of summer you need to apply mineral fertilizers.​

​The main requirement when choosing a place for phlox is the presence of light and sun: these plants love light.​

Features of cultivation.

​And during flowering, carpets of awl-shaped phloxes are strewn with flowers of a wide variety of shades (white, blue, pink, red).​

• ​That seems to be all the main points. Be sure to try placing this unpretentious, but such a fascinating plant on your property!​
• ​The soil is preferably sandy loam or light loam; if the soil is heavy, then sand must be added when planting;​
• ​Planting phlox in autumn​

Under natural conditions, phlox grows in forests, in places with moist soil. They achieve intensive growth and lush flowering by growing in moist, nutritious soils.​

​It is best to grow phlox in an area where lawn grass has grown for many years. Under no circumstances should you plant phlox after strawberries, as you risk exposing it to nematode attack. A good solution would be to choose a site where a good snow cover is created in winter. Tellaria (Tellaria) - the diameter of lilac flowers in the shape of a star with a carmine center is 2.3 cm. The height of the carpet is 12 cm. The flowering period is quite long.

How to propagate such beauty? And it's very simple!

If desired, phlox can be propagated at home using stem cuttings. Cuttings should be cut before the buds awaken. They must have at least two nodes.​

​When a phlox planting site has been successfully found, suitable soil and with proper care, flowers will retain their beauty for six years. Phlox are frost-resistant plants, but in warm winters their leaves can rot.​

​Since subulate phloxes are drought-resistant, planting them in places with excess moisture is disastrous. The best precursor for phlox is lawn grass, calendula, tagetes and other plants that do not tolerate moisture.​

​Although the flowers of the creeping phlox themselves are small, their flowering is so rich that under a large number of flowers the greenery is practically invisible. And as mentioned above, under favorable climatic conditions, the awl-shaped phlox can bloom again in September.​

Phlox awl-shaped does not tolerate damp places and stagnation of water in the root area, and also does not like acidic soil.

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Subulate phlox planting and care in open ground

Flowers are planted along with the stems, cutting off approximately one third. You cannot cut the stems down to the very base, otherwise the plant will freeze in winter. Two weeks before planting flowers, prepare the soil by adding all the necessary fertilizers.​

​When growing plants in a garden plot, it is advisable to provide them with the conditions in which they grow in nature. Phlox should not be planted near fruit trees- they don’t really like shade, and besides, the flowers will lack nutrients. Plants have a negative attitude towards stagnation of water in the root system, so areas with areas located close to the surface groundwater they are not suitable. The ideal place for flowers would be light partial shade, sheltering them from the scorching sun during the hottest hours of the day.​

Description of the plant

Phlox grows well in loose, depleted and dry places. In areas that are too fertile, it creates a lot of greenery, but is not able to bloom profusely. The right decision Before planting phlox, lime will be added to the soil, giving it neutrality.

​Temiscaming (Temiscaming) - the diameter of a bright dark crimson flower is 2.0 cm. It grows 15 cm high. It grows actively, which ultimately gives a very dense carpet with beautiful dark red leaves. Propagated well by cuttings.​

​Plant and buy only healthy and high-quality planting material. Read how to choose seedlings here.​

When propagated by cuttings, phloxes are planted in the spring, at the beginning of the appearance of shoots. The queen of the plant breaks off shoots six centimeters long.​

​As a result, plants completely lose their decorative properties, but with proper care they can recover. Adding humus will promote rapid growth and abundant flowering.​

​You cannot plant this type of flower, for example, after strawberries. Like all evergreens, it is advisable to plant the awl-shaped phlox in places where there is a lot of snow in winter.​

​In Europe, varieties of awl-shaped phlox first appeared in England. After this, phlox became very popular and they began to grow it even in noble English gardens.​

​Awl-shaped phlox got its name due to the shape of its leaves: narrow, hard, pointed. The common people called it the carpet carnation because it spreads along the ground, and in its geographical homeland it is called the moss carnation.​

​You should also keep in mind that if you overfeed the plant with nitrogen fertilizers, this will lead to the growth of a large mass of shoots and leaves, and flowering will be weak. Therefore, it is advisable to feed the subulate phlox with complex water-soluble fertilizers 2-3 times - in the spring and during the season.​

​If it turns out that you did not have time to plant phloxes on time, do not be upset, the plants can be saved. You should find a secluded place, protected from wind and drafts, and carefully bury the flowers to a depth of about 25 cm. For the winter, the seedlings must be covered with peat or fallen leaves.​

Phlox awl-shaped, planted and cared for properly, has virtually no problems with flowering. Despite their unpretentiousness, the plants, of course, need basic care.​

​Before planting, weeds should be thoroughly removed so that they do not subsequently disturb the external beauty of the flower planting. And weeding must be organized in a timely manner, without starting planting. You can plant young plants at intervals of thirty centimeters, and in just a couple of years you are guaranteed to get a beautiful green carpet. All that will be necessary is to arrange the leaves of the plants in the right directions to speed up the process of landscaping the area.​

​Thank you for your attention and write comments!​

Phlox location

​Aurora (Aurora) - a star-shaped flower with a diameter of 2.4 cm, the color is almost white with a pale pink tint. During flowering, it resembles snowdrifts 12 cm high.​

​These cuttings take root quite quickly and by autumn they already grow into full-bodied plants. Cuttings should be planted in boxes or on beds with fertilized soil, with a layer of river sand, and the cuttings should be watered daily.​

​However, it is worth remembering that it is not recommended to overfeed these phloxes, otherwise the plants will simply “go into leaves”, that is, the tops will be beautiful and powerful, but you will hardly see any flowers. Read here for an idea about why plants bloom.​

Phlox will feel great on loose, dry soils. In fertile soil they will produce more greenery than flowers.​

​In 1746, the famous traveler and plant collector Farrer brought several varieties of moss carnation to his homeland. He called this event a successful discovery for floriculture.​

​This plant grows in the USA to North Carolina and west to Michigan; in the wild, the flower can often be found on rocky and sandy hills.​

Soil for the plant

Caring for awl-shaped phlox is quite simple

Phlox awl-shaped, planted and cared for correctly, eventually turns into a tall one beautiful bush With bright inflorescences, blooming for a fairly long period of time.​

If you decide to plant phlox on your site, then it is better to prepare the soil in advance, in the fall. Flowers are usually planted in the spring after the soil has thawed. The most important requirement for the soil in which flowers will grow is moisture and the necessary nutrients.​

Planting subulate phlox

​They are quite simple and known to everyone: - weeding the area, - watering, - fertilizing.​

Phlox owes its name to the shape of its leaves - narrow, harsh to the touch, with points reminiscent of a small awl. People call it carpet or creeping. Let's consider phlox subulate - planting and care; perennial phloxes do not require special care efforts; they can grow even among rocky screes and dry sandy hills.​

​Amazing Grace (Amazing Grace) - the diameter of a white flower with a bright purple eye is 1.8 cm. This variety grows up to 12 cm in height.​

To propagate rare varieties of phlox, use green cuttings or leaves alone. Before budding, the leaves are separated from the plant with part of the stem.

Phlox care

​Feeding with wood ash, which contains all the necessary microelements, but does not contain nitrogen, will not hurt. Take half a kilogram of ash and pour three liters of boiling water. Let this solution cool. Dilute it in 10-12 liters of water and use it as foliar feeding for phlox, and as a natural insecticide that destroys most pests of this plant.​

​In the wild they grow in poor soils. Everyone knows that in Moscow and the Moscow region the soils are quite acidic; in such soil they will lack macroelements, but for example, in an alkaline environment there are microelements, therefore the soil is limed before planting phloxes.​

Little by little, flower growers created new forms of phlox that appeared as a result of hybridization. Today, the ancestors of the current awl-shaped phlox no longer exist.​

The height of an evergreen plant, spreading along the ground in a dense mat, can reach up to twenty centimeters.

- this means timely weeding, watering and fertilizing. After spring flowering, you can give the bush a light pruning; this will provoke the growth of many side shoots, which will make your bush even fluffier. About once every 5 years, the bushes need to be rejuvenated, because over time the stems become woody, the leaves die off and bald spots appear.​

​Such different phloxes…​

After planting, phloxes should be watered abundantly. Then, when the flowers take root, it is recommended to feed them with a weak solution of mullein.​

​As a rule, it is necessary to feed before flowering, when the plant is most active. The best solution There will be the use of nitrogen-potassium compounds. But minerals can be added no earlier than mid-summer.

Phlox reaches a height of about fifteen centimeters. As it germinates, it creates permanently green, dense mats. The stems are recumbent, covered with small narrow leaves. Each stem has a peduncle containing one or two flowers. Phlox flowering begins in mid-May and lasts until the second half of June. The second stage, not so abundant, takes place from August to September.​

Reproduction

​G. F. Wilson (G.F. Wilson) - the diameter of a light blue star-shaped flower is 1.8 cm. This is probably the most common vigorous variety (carpet height up to 20 cm). It grows and reproduces well.​

​The lower half of the sheet with the heel is dug in obliquely into wet sand beds or exploration box, covered with glass, and sprayed from time to time. Well-rooted cuttings soon produce small shoots, which are planted in the ground in the spring.

In the northern parts, where plants need shelter for the winter, it is necessary to use coniferous spruce branches (it does not acidify the soil).

​Depending on the type of soil, the dose of limestone can vary from 230-440 grams per square meter. Most often used for liming dolomite flour. On heavy soils, sand must be added before planting.​

​They grow in our gardens garden hybrids that have appeared over the centuries. Unfortunately, there are no domestic subulate phloxes - apparently due to the fact that this species does not form seeds.​

The stems of the plant are very densely covered with small and short, narrow and hard leaves. Each stem has one to two flowers with a diameter of twenty-five millimeters.​

​The most common way to propagate awl-shaped phlox is to simply divide an adult bush in early spring into several parts. By autumn, the “kids” will be little different from mother plant.​

​I can imagine very well what associations the word “phlox” will evoke in many people. What immediately comes to mind is my grandmother’s front garden with bright flower caps – the well-known Phlox paniculata. But today we will talk about an equally beautiful “relative” - phlox subulate.​

Phlox awl-shaped, planting and caring for which does not provide the moisture it needs, grows low, has small inflorescences, and their number is very small. Such plants fade very quickly.​

​If the selection of the site is carried out correctly and proper care is organized, then the awl-shaped phlox will always reciprocate your feelings and will gratefully retain its green freshness for at least five years.​

Diseases and pests

​In its original form, awl-shaped phlox is rarely found. Its various types are mainly widespread garden forms and varieties that have a large number of varieties. Flowering creates wonderful decorations for rocky hills, walls, gazebos, and is suitable for borders.​

​Dujmovotcshka (Thumbelina) - the leaves are dark green, the diameter of the flower is deep pink, with a dark carmine center, 1.6 cm. It grows well.​

​By autumn they become full-fledged plants.​

​Dry leaves will not be suitable for wintering phlox as shelter; they can only be used for plants with non-wintering leaves.​

Varieties

​Since the root system of phlox lies rather shallow, plants can use a small amount of soil.​

​All we have are foreign varieties and hybrids produced in England, Holland, USA, Germany, France.​

​The color can be different: pink, red, white, purple, lilac.​

If you need more planting material, then there is another fairly simple way - cutting cuttings. If you use cuttings with a “heel,” it is better to do this in early spring, when young shoots begin to grow. Cuttings up to 6 cm long are carefully separated from the mother plant, placed in a light, permeable substrate and something like a greenhouse is built. For this purpose, you can use an ordinary plastic bag.​

​Phlox subulata lat. is a perennial ground cover plant. It received this name due to its narrow, awl-like leaves that densely cover the creeping stems. During the flowering period, white, pink, lilac, blue flowers up to 2 cm in diameter almost completely hide the foliage. Flowering duration is 30-45 days.​

Phlox subulate: cultivation and care

The plant is a cold-resistant species, but if the winter is quite warm, the leaves of the flowers may rot. In this case, plants lose their appearance, but with proper care they recover quickly.​

​The main advantage of these flowers is their ability to retain their greenery even under snow cover. And even the small size of flowers can charmingly decorate such a green lawn with their abundance.

​Coral Eye (Coral Ai) - the diameter of a light pink flower with a carmine center, in the shape of a star, is 2.0 cm. It grows well (carpet height up to 12 cm) and reproduces.​

​Seed propagation is rarely practiced. Seeds are sown in open ground in the fall. In early spring, seedlings sprout from the ground in a friendly row, and with the development of the first leaves, they dive.

​In the spring, to help the phloxes wake up faster, you can water them with a humate solution, this will speed up their growth and root development.​

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Phlox subulate - planting and care, perennial phlox

​When preparing the soil for planting, you need to carefully pull out the weeds, as they will grow through the turf, and thereby ruin the entire appearance of the flower garden.​

What is a phlox plant?

​Awl-shaped phlox is unpretentious and flexible, it can grow even in the most difficult conditions growth.​

​This plant blooms very profusely for the first time from mid-May until almost the end of June, the second time it blooms less generously in August and September.​

​Periodically, the cuttings need to be ventilated and the soil moisture monitored. Such cuttings take root very quickly and by autumn they turn into full-fledged plants.​

Rules for planting perennial phlox

​View flowering bush Phlox subulate literally fascinates and attracts attention. In plantings it is used for flower beds, alpine slides, ridges, and mixborders. Small curtains can be used to decorate the edges of paths and the border of the lawn. The awl-shaped phlox of different colors looks very elegant against the background of conifers and plants with decorative foliage. And this species received the name “subulate” due to the leaves, which have a needle-like appearance. In order for the flowers to delight with their splendor for a long time and have a decorative appearance, they must be fed. Phloxes respond very well to fertilizing from wood ash, containing potassium and lime. Thanks to such elements, the brightness of the inflorescences increases, in addition, they become more resistant to diseases.​

Having considerable experience in landscaping garden plots, over time I have identified several plants that can always be used - regardless of the shape, type and style of the plot. One of these plants is phlox subulate.

This ground cover looks appropriate in any garden. In this article I will share my knowledge about this plant, tell you how to plant phlox subulate and how to care for it.

The awl-shaped phlox is a representative of the Sinyukov family: it is a perennial ground cover, low-growing subshrub. It reaches a height of 15-17 cm, but there are varieties with a height of only 5 cm. You can also find quite tall varieties on sale, reaching 21 cm.

The stem is creeping, adjacent to the ground. It is quite hard and has a characteristic greenish color. During the growing season the stem grows up to half a meter. Since the plant is ground cover, the stem produces roots from its internodes: thus, the area is quickly filled with flowers.

The leaves run evenly along the entire length of the stem, are green in color, and small in size. The name “awl-shaped” for phlox appeared precisely because of the shape of the leaves - it resembles an awl.

The flowers are small, reaching only 2-2.5 cm in diameter. There are always five petals. When open, the petals form a corolla. The color is usually as follows: white, blue, lilac, pink, purple, cream. There are also rarer colors, two-tone.

The flowers have a pleasant smell. Perennial phloxes bloom in late spring and early summer, and may bloom a second time in August-September.

Varieties

For the first time, subulate phlox was grown in England. And from this country the plant spread throughout Europe. Species phloxes (ancestors) are not currently used in ornamental gardening - they are used only for breeding work.

Numerous species hybrids are used to decorate landscape designs - varieties are bred in large numbers by breeders. Let's get acquainted with the most popular varieties of awl-shaped phlox in our country.

Candy Stripes

The plant is famous for its spectacular and original coloring: there is a clearly visible pink stripe on the white background of the petals. The bush is not tall, grows up to 10 cm. It blooms profusely and for quite a long time. Moreover, the flowers appear almost all at the same time - in this way a continuous carpet is formed on the site. Photo on the website.

Emerald Cuchon Blue

This plant is distinguished by a wonderful shade of petals: delicate violet-blue. The shrub blooms profusely, filling the designated area completely. Even the stems and leaves are usually not visible behind the flowers. In addition, the plant has a very pleasant, rich aroma.

Emerald Pink

A variation of the previous variety. The difference is the color of the petals: in Emerald Pink it is bright pink, sometimes reddish, with a crimson center. All other features are identical to the Cuchon Blue variety.

Scarlet Flame

The plant has large flowers, reaching a diameter of 2.5 cm. The color of the petals is rich pink, very bright and attractive. It reaches a height of 15 cm, blooms twice per season: in June and September. Next, we’ll find out what nuances there are in planting and caring for the plant.

Growing conditions

Let's find out in what conditions the awl-shaped phlox will feel best.

Place

It is best to plant the plant in a sunny area with plenty of light. Phlox can also bloom well in partial shade, but only if the soil is moderately moist. But it is not recommended to plant a flower in the shade: it will not be able to demonstrate all its splendor without the sun.

The soil

The bed for phlox should be well-drained: the plant absolutely cannot tolerate stagnant moisture. The soil must be loose: dense clay soil must first be mixed with sand.

You should not plant phlox in lowlands: stagnant moisture can lead to rotting of the flower roots. But in poor and even rocky soil, awl-shaped phlox can grow quite safely.

Preparing seedlings

Usually, awl-shaped phlox is grown from seeds. And so that by the time the plant is planted in the ground it is already strong, the seedlings are first germinated at home.

Sowing of seeds is carried out in March: the seeds are planted in common large containers or boxes. Since the seeds are small, they are not buried, but simply distributed as evenly as possible over the ground.

You should cover the seeds a little with soil, but not too much. The box is placed on the windowsill, but shaded from direct sun. The substrate must be moistened with a spray bottle. When 3-4 leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings are ready to be placed in the garden.

You can plant a shift without preliminary seedlings, directly into the ground - usually this planting is done in the fall. Over the winter, the seeds will naturally harden and the most viable ones will sprout in the spring.

Video on the topic:

Landing

Before planting, you should dig holes for the plants. The bottom must be filled with drainage in the form of expanded clay and pebbles. A mixture of soil with ash and humus is laid out on the drainage.

The roots of the planting material are dipped in Kornevin or Epin solution and then planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Such a decent distance is justified by the fact that phlox is a creeping flower and it is necessary to leave space for the development of its creeping stems.

If planting is done in wet spring land, you don’t have to water the plants additionally. However, if the soil has already dried out, be sure to moisten the soil after planting.

The planting material should be covered with film or agrofibre on top and thus left for several days (maximum a week) for rooting.

Important: subulate phlox produces a lot of seeds, so plants in the area can easily reproduce by self-sowing.

Dividing the bush

This propagation is well suited for heavily grown phloxes. You can divide the bush in spring or autumn. The plant tolerates the procedure well and takes root easily in a new place.

An adult flower is completely dug out of the ground and divided into several particles. It is important that each part has its own roots. After division, the particles are immediately seated in designated areas.

How to care

Let's consider the main points for caring for awl-shaped phlox.

Watering

The plant must be watered moderately - it is important to avoid waterlogging. Phlox can easily withstand short-term drought without even losing its decorative appearance.

Much more problematic is waterlogging, which can even lead to the death of plants. Therefore, watering is carried out only after the top layer of soil has noticeably dried out.

If the summer is dry, it is permissible to water once every 2-3 days, the rest of the time - once a week.

Weeding

The first time is to clean the bed before planting phlox. And then the procedures are repeated after watering: weeds are easily removed from the wet soil with their roots.

Top dressing

Creeping phlox is fed several times during the growing season. Proper feeding will help the plant grow stronger, prolong its flowering, and increase immunity. A manure solution is optimal for fertilizing: 25 ml of fertilizer per bucket of water. Mineral complexes are also used.

Trimming

The procedure is usually carried out in the spring. Pruning is aimed at forming a beautiful compact bush. If you prune in summer or autumn, you can inadvertently cut off the buds, and thus make future flowering more rare.

Diseases and pests

In general, needle phlox is resistant to various lesions and diseases. If agricultural practices are followed, the flower is extremely rare. However, when grown in waterlogged conditions, it can suffer from fungal diseases.

Powdery mildew

The disease manifests itself as a whitish coating on the vegetative part of the plant. Eliminate the problem by spraying copper sulfate and Bordeaux mixture.

Rust

This disease is expressed as characteristic rusty-brown spots on the foliage. They destroy pathogens with the drug Topaz.

Fomoz

The pathology causes foliage to wilt and lead to fragility of shoots. They cope with the scourge by spraying plants with a solution of colloidal sulfur.

Stem nematodes

These small pests lead to the loss of color in leaves and stems, slowing down the growth and development of the flower. It is impossible to completely exterminate them, since nematodes appear from the soil. However, if you properly prepare the soil, you can significantly minimize the likelihood of pests.

Use in design

Phlox subulate is a ground cover plant, so it is logical that it is used in landscape design mainly to fill voids on the site. The plant quickly fills the space, transforming the garden and cultivating it.

The flower is also suitable for growing in mixboards and rockeries. Looks good on alpine roller coaster Moreover, phlox grows well in rocky soil.

The flower can also be used as a border plant: it can be used to border garden paths, gazebos, flower beds, and flower beds. The plant also looks good in hanging containers: on the balcony, terrace, porch.

The phlox carpet looks great against the background coniferous plants. Compositions with other groundcovers also look great: sedum, cereals, bells, young plants, etc.

So, we found out what kind of plant the awl-shaped phlox is. This ground cover flower can turn an area into a continuous bright carpet. Growing phlox is not difficult, and caring for it will not require much trouble - even a beginner can cope with the task.

Phloxes are a bright and lush garden decoration. They are grown for cutting, decorating plots, and creating compositions in the open ground. From the article you will learn about the features of planting this plant, as well as everything about caring for it.

Varieties and varieties of phlox subulate

Snow-white, dark red, pink, purple - awl-shaped phlox has many shades, planting and caring for which even beginners can do. It got its name because of its narrow, pointed leaves that look like an awl. This phlox is a ground cover species that blooms earlier than others in the spring. Blooming carpet beautiful not only in the photo, but also in any summer cottage.

Variety "Candy Stripes"

Among the varieties of awl-shaped phlox, the most interesting are:

1. "Candy Stripes." White flower with a pink stripe in the center.
2. "Tellaria". Lilac, star-shaped. It blooms for a very long time.
3. "Maishnee." A dazzling white flower, one of the most common.
4. "Thumbelina." It has a rich pink color. It grows quickly.

Variety "Thumbelina"

Planting and caring for the plant

When choosing a site for awl-shaped phlox, give preference to a sunny and dry place. Also pay attention to the soil. It should be infertile, dry and loose. Acidity - neutral or slightly alkaline. On wet chernozems, plants produce a lot of greenery, but practically do not bloom. The planting depth should be no more than 15 cm, since the roots of phlox are not very long. The distance between the bushes is about 20-30 cm.

Advice. The best predecessors for phlox are perennial herbs and calendula. Do not root these flowers after garden strawberries: There is a high probability that nematodes remain in the soil, which will quickly take root on new plants.

Phlox care includes:

• regular loosening of the soil;
• weed control;
• moderate watering warm water(cold causes the stems to crack);
• removing inflorescences that have faded.

It is important to know that phloxes should not be watered with cold water.

Every 5 years, phloxes need to be replanted so that their flowering is lush and long-lasting. These flowers are considered frost-resistant, provided that in winter they are covered with a sufficient layer of snow. Therefore, in the fall it is necessary to cut off the tops and sprinkle the roots with soil mixed with peat. Additionally, cover them with straw, spruce branches, fallen leaves.

Attention! If the winter weather is relatively warm, without severe frosts, with frequent thaws, the shelter should be removed, since the phloxes can rot.

Fertilizing and feeding phlox

Annual varieties need 4 feedings per season, perennial varieties - 5 (the last one will fall during the period of seed ripening).

Be sure to feed the phlox several times a season.

Approximate fertilizer application scheme:

1. Late spring: 25 g of liquid manure per 10 liters of water.
2. The beginning of June. The same thing, but with the addition of superphosphate.
3. Early July. Liquid manure without additives.
4. End of July. Fertilizer with potassium and phosphorus salt. Application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizing. It's better to do it in the evening.

You can use ash to fertilize phlox. Take 350 g, pour 2 liters of water over them, boil for 10 minutes. Cool, strain and add a bucket of water. Use for both root and foliar feeding.

Advice. After winter, water the phlox with humus. This will speed up their growth and root development.

Perennial propagation

Protection from diseases and pests

Phlox most often suffer from variegation and powdery mildew. In the first case, an ugly pattern appears on the leaves, unusual for the plant, in the second - a white matte coating. Prevention of these diseases - spring treatment Bordeaux mixture. If you notice symptoms, remove damaged plants.

Also among phlox diseases are:

• septoria (signs: brown spots on leaves);
• phomosis (signs: fragility of shoots, drying of leaves).

Phlox shoots infected with phomosis

When symptoms of septoria blight appear, spray the bushes and soil near them with Bordeaux mixture. Repeat treatment after 14 days. The development of phomosis is easier to prevent by spraying phlox with colloidal sulfur.

Attention! The air temperature during processing must be at least + 18º C.

Of the pests, the most annoying to phlox are nematodes and other threadworms. If they settle on plants, the stems become fragile, the leaves and flowers are deformed. Affected phloxes need to be dug up and burned, and the soil should be treated with nematicides.

Combination of phlox with other plants

Phloxes in landscape design

Compositions of phlox with primrose, poppy, edelweiss, dwarf iris and wormwood, and aster are successful. This flower looks bright against the background of conifers with a clear shape: thuja, juniper, pine, dwarf spruce. Combinations of awl-shaped phlox with other groundcovers (sedum, sedum) are harmonious. Annual plants are good in an ensemble with bells, snapdragons, and cereals.

Advice. When choosing “neighbors” for phlox, take into account the flowering period of the plants. By wisely combining flower crops, you can create a colorful flower bed that will delight you from spring to autumn.

The use of phlox subulate in landscape design

1. As a lawn. Particularly suitable for decorating large areas in the garden.
2. On alpine hills and rock gardens. Here phloxes will decorate the tops and also smooth out uneven slopes.
3. For creating borders along gazebos and paths in the garden.
4. In mixborders (mixed flower beds). Awl-shaped phlox will look better in the foreground.
5. In the spaces between paths lined with stones or slabs, and on stone steps.
6. For flower arrangements in containers. They are placed on the balcony or at the entrance to the gazebo, near the gate.

Phloxes on an alpine hill

To decide which is right for you, take a look bright photos with phlox. But rest assured: no matter what use you find for these colors, they will look festive and original everywhere. You just need to use a little imagination to make your site even more attractive.

How to grow phlox correctly: video

Types and varieties of phlox subulate: photo

Awl-shaped phloxes will be a wonderful decoration for any garden plot. They are bright, spectacular and absolutely unpretentious. Belongs to the Sinyukhov family. The homeland of the awl-shaped phlox is North America.

The stem is creeping or erect. The leaves are narrow-oval. The color of the leaves is bright green. Wherein the arrival of winter does not change the color of the leaves. Fragrant flowers form inflorescences. The size of the inflorescence varies depending on the variety.

Flower colors are varied: pink, white, red, purple and others.

Varieties

Thanks to breeding work, a huge variety of varieties have been developed different varieties plants.

Carpet lights

This not a varietal variety culture. This is the name of the plant because the awl-shaped phlox is a bright and spectacular ground cover, which is lined with a flower carpet. Bright star flowers look like lights against a green background.

Carpet lights

Candy Stripes

Candy Stripes is a very popular variety. The flower is white in color. There is a wide pink border in the center of the petal. Plants form floral and colorful carpets. Plant height no more than 15 cm.

Flowering lasts throughout the summer season. Probably re-blooming in early autumn.

Candy Stripes

Esmerald Blue

Esmerald Blue is a tall variety up to 15 cm. The flowers have a pale lilac hue. Plants form a continuous floral carpet.

Esmerald Blue

Flowering is abundant and lasts throughout the summer.

Purple Beauty

Purple Beauty

Purple Beauty is a spectacular varietal variety with bright purple flowers. The petals are strongly divided. The variety is characterized by strong growth. The plant begins to bloom in May.

Flowering lasts for 2 months.

Mayshne

Mayshne

Maischnee is another popular variety of awl-shaped phlox. The flowers are small and wheel-shaped. The color of the flowers is snow-white. Plant height does not exceed 10 cm. Flowering lasts from May to June.

Repeat flowering is possible in August, but not as abundant as the first.

Growing and caring for phlox subulate

Subulate is considered a crop easy to grow and unpretentious.

Soil requirements

Subulate phloxes feel much better on poor and dry soil rather than on fertile soil.

On fertile soil, they practically do not please with their bright and fragrant flowers, since the plant’s energy is spent on growing green mass.

The soil must be loose and neutral. Therefore, if the soil on the site is acidic, then it is recommended to add lime to it.

The plant prefers dry soils

It is advisable to plant phlox in the area where they previously grew. perennial crops- marigolds, calendula.

Plant in the former place where strawberries grew Not recommended, since there is a high risk of soil contamination with nematodes.

Landing

It is advisable to plant seedlings in early spring, when the soil has already warmed up, but will retain moisture.

How to plant?

• Before planting, you will need to prepare the soil; for this, all weeds are removed;
• You can add rotted compost to the soil;
• It is not recommended to deepen the seedlings, since the awl-shaped phlox has a superficial root system;
• The distance between seedlings should be not less than 25 cm.

Care after landing

Care includes the following procedures:

• Systematic loosening of the soil;
• Weed removal;
• Regular and moderate watering. Warm water is used because cold water leads to cracking of stems;
• Trimming faded inflorescences.

In winter it tolerates frost well.

In the northern regions can be covered Phlox awl-shaped. You can use film as a cover. However, the stems may retreat under cover. As a result, the death of the culture is possible. In snowy winters they can do without shelter.

In summer, plants tolerate drought and temporary drops in temperature well. During drought it requires abundant watering.

For the winter, the awl-shaped phlox is cut off from dried flowers.

Top dressing

At the stage of active growth, fertilizing will be required, which contains nitrogen and potassium. Further, at the flowering stage, you can apply complex mineral fertilizer.

It is also advisable to add humus. Humus not only stimulates crop growth, but also promotes abundant and intense flowering. It is better to apply it at the end of the winter period.

Excess fertilizers, especially nitrogen, is fraught with too weak flowering or its absence.
Wood ash can be used as fertilizer.

Reproduction

Subulate phloxes reproduce in several ways:

• Seed;
• By cuttings;
• By division.

Seeds

Propagation by seeds is least common method propagation of culture. How to propagate phlox subulates using seeds?

1. Sow seeds in open ground at the end of February;
2. When two true leaves appear on the seedlings, they must be transplanted to the main place of growth;
3. The soil where the seedlings grow must always remain moist.

Schlox seeds

Cuttings

1. Trim apical stalk creeping shoot, you can also use a broken stem;
2. Remove lower leaves from a cutting;
3. Rooting occurs when kept in room temperature in a pot with fertile soil;
4. In spring you can transplant it into open ground.

By dividing the rhizome

It is advisable to divide in the spring, but it can also be done after flowering.

What is required for propagation by division?

1. The plant is dug up;
2. The earth is shaken off the earthen clod;
3. Every division must have developed roots;
4. The resulting plants are planted in pre-prepared holes.

Phlox divisions

Diseases and pests

The most common diseases:

• Powdery mildew;
• Variety.

Powdery mildew determined by a whitish coating on the leaves, and variegation appears in the form of ugly patterns on the foliage. It is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant.

To prevent these diseases, it is necessary to spring period treat with Bordeaux mixture.

The most common pests:

• Nematode;
• Thread worm.

Pests lead to fragility of stems and deformation of leaves. When pests develop on plants, it is recommended to dig the plants out of the soil and destroy them, and treat the soil with nematicides.

Nematicide for pest control of Phlox awl-shaped

Combination with other plants

Subulate phlox good neighbors with the following plants:

• Asters;
• Primrose;
• Low growing irises;
• Poppies;
• Youthful;
• Snapdragon.

Phlox is also good next to coniferous crops: thuja, juniper, pine.

Subulate phloxes are good for planting on small lawns, where the plants form continuous flower carpets.

Phlox is also used to create low borders along garden paths. It is possible to use subulate phloxes in rock gardens, rockeries and mixborders.

Especially good flowers are in the foreground of flower beds. The crop can also be grown in containers that will decorate verandas, porches or entrances. garden plot.

Thus, awl-shaped phlox is a bright and unpretentious ground cover that can decorate a garden plot, forming a continuous carpet on the lawn. There are many varieties known with a wide variety of colors of flower-lights.

To create on your site not an ordinary flower garden, but real lakes or a thick carpet of flowers is a task that is quite realistic if phlox subulate is taken on.

Description

Phlox subulata.

Phlox is a plant classified as a ground cover perennial shrub 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.

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 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 pinkish in color 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, 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).

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 only for personal plots used for propagation, division of bushes is used. In this way, it is possible to increase the planting of a specific variety, a certain color range. 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”

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, prepare for the subshrub landing hole. 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 No planted plants are 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.

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”

Disease and pest control

Phlox awl-shaped 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 they use Bordeaux mixture, and also carry out treatment with “Topaz” before and after flowering.

Plant 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.).

Using phlox awl-shaped in decorating an area

This beautiful shrub has found wide application in garden design. It is often used to create beautiful alpine slides or bright lawns. Considering the low growth of the plant, it looks good as borders that decorate garden paths or grow between the path tiles.
Phlox is appropriate in flower beds and flowerpots, in single plantings, in combination with other flowers (sedum, Snapdragon, bellflower) or cereals.
Phlox awl-shaped on the site is a beauty for many years!

Awl-shaped phlox is called because of the pointed shape of the leaves.

Subulate Phlox - ornamental plant up to 15 cm high, with dense greenery and small bright flowers.

The name is associated with narrow and pointed leaves, thanks to which the flower stem resembles a pine twig.

Subulate phloxes usually bloom twice during the summer: first from May to mid-June, and the second time in August-September.

Landing

Selecting a location

In nature, the favorite places of this plant are dry and sunny hills and sandy slopes, rocky areas.

Insufficient ventilation has a bad effect on these flowers. They will bloom poorly if planted too closely or under solid wall. It is better to plant them at a distance from the fence or choose more openwork, air-permeable barriers.

Spruce phlox, like all evergreens, requires snow cover in winter.

These flowers will quickly grow and occupy the area intended for them. The shoots grow more than 10 cm per year and take root well.

Choosing the time to land

By early summer, phlox should be well rooted in the ground.

Subulate phlox is propagated by cuttings and seeds. Cuttings are cut in early spring, planted in seedling boxes or prepared beds, and watered with warm water.

Young plants are transplanted from boxes into open ground.

Such cuttings take root well in late spring and early summer, and by autumn they become adult plants.

Soil preparation

The root system of subulate phloxes is located at a depth of up to 15 cm. It is precisely due to the fact that they require a thin layer of soil that these flowers decorate rocky areas and alpine hills.

Read how to grow delphinium in the garden here.

Also read how to choose ornamental shrubs for the dacha.

The soil for planting subulate phlox should be dry and well-drained. In addition, it is important to know what has grown on this land recently: pests may remain from last year. So, if strawberries grew on the site in the previous season, the probability of phlox infection with roundworms is very high.

It is safest to plant awl-shaped phlox in areas where lawn perennial grasses or flowers such as marigolds (tagetes) and calendula grew.

It is important to clear the area of ​​the roots of perennial weeds. Phlox, intertwining stems, form turf, through which strong weeds can break through and ruin the appearance of the area. It will be very difficult to remove such a weed without damaging the flowers.

Liming is a mandatory procedure for acidic soil

Acidic soils - such as, for example, in the Moscow region - must be limed. To do this, lime or dolomite flour is thoroughly mixed with the soil.

200-400 grams of lime or less are consumed per square meter, depending on the situation.

In very heavy soils, add a little sand before planting flowers.

Care

Not too much watering, timely weeding and fertilizing 2-3 times per season - usually this is enough to keep the awl-shaped phlox healthy and looking great.

Areas with old plants need to be rejuvenated.

If your phloxes are five years old or older, they may develop leafless fragments and not bloom as profusely.

Feeding

Before flowering, from about the end of April to mid-May, nitrogen-potassium fertilizers are applied to the soil. If necessary, add complete mineral fertilizer in mid-summer.

Wood ash is both a fertilizer for phlox and a pest repellent

One of the best ways top dressing - wood ash.

It contains all the necessary macro- and microelements, although there is no nitrogen. The ash solution also helps as a means of pest control.

If you overdo it with fertilizers, as well as on very fertile soils, awl-shaped phlox will produce a thick green carpet, but bloom rarely and poorly.

The best conditions for their flowering are created on relatively dry, poor soils.

Watering

Subulate phloxes should be watered very sparingly. These are drought-resistant plants; excess moisture harms them. Externally, signs of waterlogging may look like this: weakened plants, rare flowers, no continuous carpet effect.

Trimming

It is enough once a year, after flowering, to remove old stems and adjust the shape of the green massif. In the spring, after the snow melts, you can trim dry shoots.

Pests and diseases

To protect plants from powdery mildew, preventive treatment is carried out before and after flowering - for example, with the Topaz composition.

When infested by caterpillars, insecticides are used.

Also read how to grow verbena from seeds.

To learn how to plant daylilies in your garden, click here.

Application in landscape design

Various varieties of awl-shaped phlox allow you to create real artistic compositions.

The flowers of awl-shaped phlox can be plain or decorated with stripes, a contrasting border, and bright stars in the middle. Color - from the purest white to rich purple, including all shades of pink and lilac, blue and blue-violet. The leaves of different varieties also differ in color saturation and shade.

Dense greenery between flowering periods looks great on rocky areas of the garden, on slopes, terraces and alpine hills. Awl-shaped phlox often frames multi-level flower beds - mixborders.

During flowering, the effect of a continuous carpet allows, by combining varieties of different colors, to obtain delightful compositions on lawns and very small flower beds.

The most beautiful and popular varieties of subulate phlox are presented in the photo gallery:

Jul 21, 2015 Elena Timoshchuk

Find something unpretentious and at the same time for your flower garden beautiful plant sometimes it can be difficult, besides, it is desirable that it grows intensively and decorates empty areas. Phlox awl-shaped falls under all these criteria.

Its homeland is North America, where it can be found on sandy hills or in the light shade of bushes. In Europe, the first varieties of awl-shaped phlox were brought first to England, and then were transported to other countries. In this article we will look at the rules for growing and caring for phlox subulate.

Phlox - the Latin name of which is “Phlox”, belongs to the Sinyukhov family; among more than 80 varieties of this plant there is also an awl-shaped one. It got its name because of the shape of the leaves; they are narrow, pointed and hard at the tips, each looking like a small awl. This species is also called carpet or creeping; in America, the flower is also known as “moss carnation.”

Phlox awl-shaped is often used in landscape design; its photo is often found in catalogs of famous designers. The flower stalk can be miniature and reach a height of only 25 cm, and its taller varieties grow up to 120 cm.

The colors of this plant are very diverse, there are pure white flowers, bluish, lilac, pink, red and some shades of purple, and certain groups of the plant in question are bicolor.

Low-growing varieties densely cover the ground and form a continuous carpet, which is often used to sow empty spaces in large flower beds, or decorate the base of alpine hills.

The stems have short internodes, densely covered with narrow leaves, the length of which barely exceeds 2 cm; to top it off, the stems end in peduncles, on which there are from one to two peduncles. Each of them has 5-7 funnel-shaped flowers, their diameter does not exceed 25 mm.

Phlox awl-shaped – perennial, the flowering period of which falls in the spring, it begins in mid-May and lasts until the end of June. The plant begins to bloom again in August-September.

When phlox reaches its full flowering peak, its foliage is practically invisible behind a whole cap of open inflorescences. And after flowering, the bush is also of interest to connoisseurs of well-groomed flower beds, since its stems remain green all autumn and even under snowdrifts.

For four years, the bush does not require special care and pleases with its flowers at certain times. And after five years, despite the fact that the plant is a perennial, it needs to be renewed. This procedure is inevitable, since the flower immediately becomes sluggish and highly susceptible to disease.

Selection of location and conditions of detention

Phlox are unpretentious and peaceful flowers that have a weak root, so you should not plant them near plants with a strongly developed root system, they will not be able to survive in such conditions.

Lighting and location

For planting awl-shaped phlox, it is better to choose sunny places, although areas located in partial shade are also suitable for it. In order to get the most striking manifestations of decorative value from it, it is worth creating conditions for it that would be closest to natural ones.

A suitable environment for them will be rocky slopes and sandy hills, which will be well lit from all sides. The plant is light-loving by nature; there is no need to plant very tall flowers in dense rows near it.

Before choosing a planting site, you should know that a flower can react differently to its predecessors. There are both positively and negatively affecting plants, the roots or diseases of which, after digging, can remain in the ground and affect the condition of the phlox.

Temperature

The plant demonstrates high resistance to low temperatures; it can be safely left without digging for the winter. If low temperatures are observed at night during the flowering period, the flowers will not lose their decorative value and will delight their gardeners almost all summer.

In very cold or snowless winters, the plant needs to be covered. But as soon as the temperature rises a little, you immediately need to free it from the insulating layer, otherwise it will lock up and it will not be possible to rehabilitate it.

Air and humidity

The awl-shaped phlox can withstand periods of drought, but if they are long, it may lose its decorative appeal. To avoid this, the flower should be provided with regular watering. But even in this case, there is no need to overdo it, since the plant cannot tolerate stagnant moisture, its roots can rot in such conditions.

Overwatering has a detrimental effect on the plant. Novice gardeners do not take this into account and flood the newly planted plant, causing irreparable damage to it. Because of this, the plant may not produce the expected continuous carpet, and in the worst case, it will simply die.

Priming

Phlox can be successfully grown on any type of soil, but the best for it is considered to be sandy, to which no amount of substrate has been stingy. The main thing is that they have high aeration properties and are dry; their pH value should be neutral.

If the site chosen for them is highly acidic, then many needed by the flower microelements will be unavailable, and if he gets into an alkaline environment, he will not be able to get enough of the necessary microelements. This can be corrected if the open ground under the phlox is limed.

The dosage of lime is calculated depending on the type of soil selected; on average it can range from 200 to 400 g/m2. Liming can be carried out with dolomite or lime flour, which will need to be mixed with the soil. In heavy soils, it is necessary to introduce sand right before planting the plant.

In the case of fertile soil, phlox produces a lot of greenery, but flowers little.

Landing

The depth of planting phlox seedlings should be no deeper than 15 cm, since the roots of the plant develop under the very top layer soil.

When planting, you need to take into account that the plant grows in small bushes with a diameter of 20 to 30 cm; this distance must be laid between the seeds. The landing process consists of several stages:

1. It is better to dig up the area chosen for flowers in the fall, and in the spring just loosen it to a shallow depth of 5 to 15 cm.
2. Remove any remaining roots and plant debris from previous years, especially if they are weeds. If they remain, once the plant develops they will be difficult to remove through dense thickets of phlox.
3. Young plants are planted at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other; it is not necessary to make large holes for watering.
4. To speed up the growth of the flower carpet, it is necessary to spread the stems over the entire surface of the soil around the rhizomes of the plant, pin and sprinkle them. This will help organize the rapid growth of shoots and ensure their strong branching.

Care

For this plant, it is necessary to arrange regular weeding, and also not to forget about timely watering and fertilizing.

Watering

Immediately after planting the plant for two weeks, you need to provide it with regular watering at least once every three days. Next, you need to water when it becomes clear that the flowers begin to close a little. If you overdo it and overly moisten the plant, its roots located in close proximity to the top layer of soil may rot.

Moreover, if phloxes are not provided with the necessary watering, they grow short, flowering begins earlier, but the buds become noticeably smaller, which affects the decorativeness of the plant.

On average, the irrigation rate on hot days is from 15 to 20 liters of water per 1 m2. In autumn, watering stops, and the upper stems of the plant are cut off.

Top dressing

With a moderate addition of humus, the plant begins to flower intensively, and it begins to grow intensively, but if it is overfed, its flowers will become sluggish.

The feeding scheme for awl-shaped phlox consists of applying certain fertilizers at various stages of their development:

• During bud setting, potassium-phosphorus supplements are required;
• after flowering ends, mineral fertilizers are added to the soil around it to support the plant;
• Fertilizing with humate will help the plant regain its strength after wintering.

An ash solution is a universal remedy for phlox, which is used for feeding them and in pest control. Unlike other fertilizers, it is the most useful, as it contains all the macro- and microelements necessary for flowers. It can be used at any time as soon as it becomes noticeable that something wrong is happening to the plant.

The preparation of the solution is as follows: 350 grams of ash is poured into 2 liters of ordinary water, and then the mixture is cooked over a fire, brought to a boil, and after 10 minutes removed from the stove. After cooling the solution, it is filtered and diluted in 10 liters of water. A mixture of wood ash is used for external and root feeding.

You should not overuse fertilizing, as the plant will produce more green shoots, but there will be fewer inflorescences.

There is also a monthly fertilizer application schedule:

• at the end of May - a solution prepared from 10 liters of water and 25 grams of liquid manure;
• in early June - the same solution combined with superphosphate;
• at the beginning of July - liquid manure itself without impurities;
• At the end of July, potassium-phosphorus fertilizing is applied.

It is better to apply fertilizers in the evening.

Pinching, pinching, pruning

Bushes must be pruned at least twice a year to prevent young shoots from growing chaotically. It is better to carry out pruning at the beginning of spring and at the end of summer, but not in the fall, since this is when the formation of flower buds occurs in the plant and they can be cut off unknowingly. This will lead to a lack of flowers next year. It is better to trim phlox immediately after they bloom.

Loosening, mulching

If you mulch the soil with humus in the fall, then in the summer you can do without applying fertilizers, the plant will develop normally. When loosening the soil, you can apply a mixed fertilizer of humus and wood ash. It is advisable to loosen the soil after weeding or watering the plant.

Transfer

It is performed at the request of the gardener, when he needs to decorate his plot with phlox, or when the bush has grown greatly and blocks access to light for other plants. In other cases, rejuvenation of the bush is required, which must be carried out every five years.

Reproduction

This can be done in several ways:

• Dividing the bush. The simplest and most common method is to get several flowering islands of phlox on your site. To do this, a whole overgrown bush is dug up, which is carefully divided into several parts, each of which should have its own root system. It is most successful to carry out this procedure in the spring.
• By cuttings. The planting material can be accidentally or purposefully torn off branches or shoots, which should be dug in until a measles system is obtained in shady areas.
• Pinning shoots. The shoots coming straight from the bush are leaned close to the ground and secured with staples. Over time, roots will appear on them, and part of the rooted area can be cut off from the mother bush to plant yourself.
• Seeds. This perennial can be sown in the same way as other crops directly into the ground; it is planted in prepared soil in the fall. In order to get seedlings in the spring, you need to pinch them as soon as 2 leaves appear on them.

Diseases and pests

The most problematic thing for awl-shaped phlox is powdery mildew, and he cannot independently cope with the attacks of caterpillars.

When fighting pests and diseases, various purchased products are used, as well as folk recipes; the main thing is to recognize the disease in time and prevent its spread throughout the bush.

Tips for caring for a sick plant:

• powdery mildew appears as white plaque, which can be eliminated by mixing grated laundry soap with water and spraying the flower with this mixture;
• caterpillar infestation becomes clearly visible by curled leaves and a brown coating on them; in the fight against such an invasion, the purchased drug “Topaz” is used;
• variegation manifests itself in the form of stripes appearing on flowers, which is why the plant must be immediately destroyed so that this viral disease is not transmitted to other planted phloxes;
• rust, it can be noticed when several flowers change their color to dark; when faced with it, it is necessary to remove the affected leaves and flowers, and spray the rest of the plant with copper sulfate.

Wintering

Awl-shaped phlox is a frost-resistant plant that does not need to be dug up for the winter. It does not need to be covered for the winter, but in the northern regions it should be insulated with spruce branches, but dry leaves and rags will not work.

Phlox subulate occupies a special place in landscape design. In spring, many gardening stores offer this flower in pots; after purchasing it, you can decorate your flower garden. The plant does not require special rooting or care, and by the end of summer it will cover the entire area allocated for it with a continuous carpet.