Phlox paniculata 'Bartwelve' PINK FLAME

I love seeing that even so-called old-fashioned plants such as perennial phlox still attract breeders’ attention and they invest time and energy in crossbreeding and selecting new, hardier, healthier, and more beautiful varieties. Their popularity is proved by the fact that they occupy 3 large pages in the RHS Encyclopedia of Plants (not many plants can boast that).

PINK FLAME is a compact perennial phlox variety from the FLAME series of perennial phlox bred by a phlox specialist Gosen Bartels from the Netherlands. It makes dense panicles composed of 2.5-3.5 cm wide, sweetly and spicy fragrant flowers of glowing pink colour with a darker eye around a raspberry purple throat. As the flowers mature their central parts turn paler which contrasts with darker and slightly curved margins creating a neon-glowing effect.

Dome-shaped, terminal panicles are produced atop 50-70 cm tall stems from June until September. Deadheading of panicles with spent flowers will encourage formation of side branches with new, smaller panicles of flowers later in the season. Deciduous leaves are broadly elliptic, 7-8 cm long, 3-4 cm wide, dark green, partially glossy, and usually disease-free. US plant patent No. PP11804 was granted in 2001.

Growing phlox is easy. It likes almost any garden soil, fertile or poor, but with enough nutrients the flowering will be heavier, and the plant will not suffer common phlox diseases. They are long-lived plants that will stay in your garden until you dig them out. Sunny location is preferred but will flower in partial shade, too. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 28-09-2022