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Phlox Amethyst is a beautiful perennial flower popular among gardeners. The plant is bright, lush, takes root well, goes well with almost all flowers, and easily tolerates winter. Phlox has earned the respect of gardeners primarily because of its decorative qualities and unpretentiousness. It is often planted in gardens, flower beds, and personal plots. Even an inexperienced gardener can cope with growing Amethyst.
Phlox blooms once a year
Description of Phlox Amethyst
Phlox bushes are moderately spreading, growing up to 1 m in height. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, up to 8 cm in size. The stems are dense, strong, and can bend under the weight of the buds. Phlox petals are wavy, strongly open, bent at right angles from the inflorescence. The plant loves partial shade and light; the Amethyst variety does not fade, but the sun's rays can burn its leaves. Bushes grow poorly in drafts, slopes, under trees and on the north side of the site. The variety grows neatly and quickly and has high frost resistance.
Phlox can be grown in all regions of Russia and other CIS countries. In the southern regions, it is advisable to allocate moist, windless areas for planting.In a continental climate, in the Urals, Altai Territory, Siberia, phlox must be planted in well-lit places where a lot of snow accumulates in winter.
Features of flowering of Amethyst Phlox
Amethysts belong to the paniculate group, have funnel-shaped flowers, collected at the top in large elongated inflorescences. The color is bright, blue-purple with a hint of pink. The plant is slender, up to 100 cm in height. The flowers are small and fragrant. Phlox paniculata Amethyst always stands out in the flowerbed due to its delicate colors and long flowering (1.5-2 months), which begins in mid-summer and lasts until September. The lushness of the plant depends on the planting location. The amethyst seedling should be placed where there is no stagnation of moisture, on fertile and loose soil. It has been noticed that in the shade phlox bushes are less lush and less expressive.
Any type of phlox takes root well in a new place
Application in design
Amethysts look great in combination with annual varieties of different colors. The plant is indispensable in country style and mixborders. Good neighbors for it are aquilegias, low shrubs, bells, rudbeckias and carnations. In summer, geraniums, alpine asters, mountaineers, lilies and oriental poppies will be a good addition. But the aggressor plants: ostrich, periwinkle, ryegrass and variegated gooseberry, it is better not to plant next to amethysts.
The flowers are suitable for cutting, look good in bouquets, and remain fresh in water for a long time.
Reproduction methods
It is not difficult to grow phlox Amethyst; for this you will need seeds, a flower with roots, or a cutting.The easiest and most effective method of propagation is considered to be dividing an adult bush. This plant will bloom the next year after planting. Phloxes are planted less frequently by cuttings; for this purpose, young shoots up to 10 cm in length are used. When propagated by seeds, the varietal qualities of the crop are not always preserved. Amethyst seeds do not last long; they should be sown in the fall, almost immediately after collection.
If the cuttings are planted in cups, they will take root better
Landing rules
Phlox Amethyst should be planted early in the morning or in cloudy weather, preferably in partial shade or in a sunny area. With light shading, the flowering period increases significantly, and in the shade the crop will bloom sparingly and for a short time. The optimal soil for phlox is light, sandy loam. If the soil is heavy, then sand should be added to it. The plant develops poorly on dense and oily soil.
The crop is planted by seed in the fall; the planting date is chosen depending on the climate. When planting seeds, leave a gap of up to 5 cm between them, and sprinkle a thin layer of earth on top. The planting depth is about 1 cm. In May, when the phlox seedlings have become stronger, they are planted in a permanent place.
Planting of the plant by seedlings is carried out in the spring, in May. For sprouts with 3-4 independent leaves, the tops are pinched and planted in open ground when the threat of frost has passed. The place for the plant for spring planting is prepared in the fall. To do this, dig up the ground and remove remaining weeds and debris from it. Humus is added to sandy soil, and lime is added to acidic soil. Clay soil needs drainage.
Amethysts can be planted by division in both spring and autumn.Bushes that are already 5 years old are suitable for this. The process includes several stages:
- Digging.
- Cleaning of rotten and dry roots.
- Dividing with a disinfected knife.
- Planting each part of the plant in fertilized and abundantly watered holes.
When propagating by cuttings, a part with several nodes is cut from a healthy bush and planted in a permanent place. To root the sprouts, you can first plant them in containers, and after a couple of weeks in a flower bed.
Once every 5 years, in the fall, it is necessary to replant or divide the phloxes
Aftercare
Phloxes do not require special care, but by adhering to basic rules, you can preserve the beauty of your front garden for many years.
To prevent the plant from getting sick, it is enough:
- Fertilize the crop with minerals during the growing season.
- Provide abundant watering, avoiding waterlogging of the soil.
- Loosen the soil after watering.
- Regularly free the flower garden from weeds.
- Plant amethyst bushes every 4-5 years.
- Mulch when late autumn arrives.
- Cover the plant for the winter if there is little snow in the region.
Flowers grow well on any soil, but they especially like light soil, with a small amount of clay.
Flowers grow well in any soil, but especially love light soil with a small amount of clay.
Preparing for winter
In order for Amethyst phlox to have lush inflorescences every year, it must be properly prepared for the onset of cold weather. The procedure includes the following steps:
- summer pruning;
- winter pruning;
- feeding;
- weeding;
- covering or mulching in late autumn.
During summer pruning of amethysts, only the flower stalks are removed, leaving most of the greenery.Before winter, the plant is cut down to ground level. Phlox can be fertilized both after flowering and before winter. Superphosphate, potassium sulfate or wood ash are best suited for this. After applying fertilizers, all weeds are removed from around the bush.
Since phlox Amethyst is a frost-resistant crop, it is not necessary to cover it. But if such a desire arises, you can insulate the plants with compost, peat or humus; you can cover the top with spruce branches. It is better to dig up phloxes growing in harsh climates before winter and store them in the basement.
Pests and diseases
Of the diseases that can affect Phlox Amethyst, there are two:
- Powdery mildew. A fungal disease that looks like a layer of dust. It affects the inflorescences and leaves of phlox, causing them to dry out and fall off. White plaque draws out useful substances and interferes with the process of photosynthesis. New leaves that appear in place of fallen ones grow deformed. The disease cannot always be noticed immediately, but after its detection, the affected parts of the amethyst should be trimmed, the soil should be soaked with a fungicide and the plant should be sprayed with it.
- Fomoz (button rot). Spots on stems and leaves that can cause flower death. Special drugs are used to combat the disease.
Among the pests that attack Phlox Amethyst are:
- Slugs. Regular “guests” of gardens and vegetable gardens. They settle in moist soil and appear in sight only at night or on cloudy days. The fight against parasites involves treating the soil with saline solution or ash.
- Nematodes. Worms that penetrate and feed on plant tissue.Pests lay eggs under the skin of the stems, which causes the flowers on the inflorescences to become smaller and the plant dies. It is impossible to get rid of parasites. When they appear, the Amethyst phlox bush should be dug up and burned, away from garden crops.
- Pennitsa. It sucks nutrients from the flower by piercing the stems and leaves. Dies from chemicals.
Conclusion
Phlox Amethyst is an unpretentious plant that, with proper care, pleases gardeners with beautiful flowers for several years. With timely removal of weeds and moderate watering, it is very resistant to disease, but with a lack of nutrition and moisture, phlox bushes can weaken. The plant looks great in flower beds, parks, flower beds and front gardens.
Phlox Amethyst was planted last year, i.e. growing for the second summer. It doesn’t bloom, which is why I started looking for reviews about it. Grows in full sun surrounded by other phloxes.
Today is 12.10, but he doesn’t even have any inflorescences. The rest have already been trimmed.