Perennial phlox 'Adessa Rose Eye' Phlox paniculata Adessa Rose Eye (Adessa Series)
ABOUT
[Adessa Rose Eye] is a compact, clump-forming perennial to around 50cm tall with dark green, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of fragrant pink flowers with darker pink eyes borne from summer into autumn
About this plant
NamesFamily
Polemoniaceae
Synonyms
Garden Phlox, Summer Phlox, Perennial Phlox, Tall Phlox
Common names
Phlox paniculata Adessa Rose Eye (Adessa Series).
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
Spread
1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
North America
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts pollinators: Phlox paniculata invites bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden, enhancing pollination for a healthy ecosystem.
- Aesthetic appeal: With its vibrant flowers and pleasant fragrance, the Garden Phlox adds color and sensory pleasure to any landscape.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, Garden Phlox can tolerate periods of dry weather, making it suitable for various climates and reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Low maintenance: This perennial requires minimal care once planted, making it ideal for gardeners wanting attractive gardens with less effort.
- Long blooming period: Garden Phlox blooms from mid-summer to early fall, offering a long-lasting display of flowers.
- Versatility in landscaping: It can be used in borders, flower beds, and as a backdrop to other shorter plants, providing structure to garden design.
- Cut flowers: The long stems and vibrant blossoms make it an excellent choice for fresh bouquets and floral arrangements.
- Hardiness: It is a hardy plant that can survive cold winters in many regions, coming back year after year.
- Resistant to deer: Garden Phlox is not a favorite among deer, making it a good choice for gardens in areas where deer browsing is a problem.
- Companion planting: It works well when planted alongside other perennials and annuals, benefiting from mutual plant relationships.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Garden phlox can be used in natural dye-making processes, providing a range of soft purple and pink hues to textiles depending on the mordant used.
- Pressed garden phlox flowers are excellent for creating botanical art and crafts, adding delicate beauty to homemade paper, greeting cards, and bookmarks.
- The plant’s stems and leaves can be included in compost piles as green matter to enrich the soil with organic material as they decompose.
- When planted strategically, garden phlox can serve as a living mulch, suppressing weeds and aiding in soil moisture conservation.
- The flowers can be used decoratively on cakes or frozen in ice cubes for an aesthetic addition to summertime beverages.
- Dried phlox flowers can be incorporated into potpourris for their delightful fragrance and vivid color, enhancing the sensory experience of a room.
- Garden phlox can be used in educational settings for plant biology studies due to its clear features such as the distinct five-petaled flowers and opposite leaves.
- Phlox can attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a useful companion plant in fruit and vegetable gardens to encourage pollination.
- The long stems of garden phlox are suited for creating living walls or garden screens, providing privacy with a splash of color.
- Phlox paniculata can play a role in sensory gardens, with its textured leaves and strongly scented blooms that offer a tactile and olfactory experience.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Garden Phlox is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Garden Phlox is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Agreement - In Victorian flower language, phlox symbolizes either the proposal of a new idea or agreement.
- Unity - The clusters of flowers on Phlox paniculata represent bringing many minds together in agreement, reflecting unity and harmony.
- Sweet Dreams - With their sweet fragrance, phlox is often associated with pleasant dreams and wishes.
- Partnership - Since phlox grows well as a cluster, it can symbolize human relationships and the importance of working or being together.
- Proposal - Phlox can be used to represent a proposal in love, with its lush, interconnected blooms symbolizing an invitation to intimacy.
WaterGarden Phlox should be watered deeply once a week, providing about an inch of water each time. This can equate to roughly 0.6 gallons for a small plant or up to 2.5 gallons for a larger one each week, depending on size and environmental conditions. During hot or dry spells, watering frequency may need to increase to maintain consistent soil moisture. Avoid overhead watering to prevent powdery mildew and water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry.
LightGarden Phlox thrives in full sunlight, where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for Garden Phlox is an area that offers bright and unfiltered light for the majority of the day. Avoid planting in areas with heavy shade or where buildings or trees block significant portions of direct sun.
TemperatureGarden Phlox is hardy in temperatures as low as 0 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit and can tolerate heat well into the 90s, but ideally prefers a range between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme temperatures outside of these ranges may negatively affect the plant’s growth and flowering.
PruningGarden Phlox benefits from pruning to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to prolong the blooming period. Cut back the plants by one-third to one-half after blooming to promote a second flush of flowers and trim any dead or diseased stems as needed.
CleaningAs needed
SoilGarden Phlox thrives in a soil mix that is rich in organic matter with good drainage. A mixture of garden soil, compost, and a small amount of sand or perlite would be ideal to ensure proper drainage. The preferred pH range for Phlox paniculata is between 6.0 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic to neutral.
RepottingGarden Phlox, being a perennial plant, does not require frequent repotting and is often planted directly in the garden. In a potting situation, repot Phlox paniculata every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and address root crowding.
Humidity & MistingGarden Phlox prefers moderate humidity conditions and can tolerate the humidity levels commonly present in outdoor garden environments. It does not have specific humidity requirements, but it should not be too dry.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright indirect light and well-draining soil.
Outdoor
Full sun to part shade, moist soil, space 18-24 inches apart.
Hardiness zone
4-8 USDA
Life cyclePhlox paniculata, commonly known as Garden Phlox, begins its life cycle when the seeds germinate in the spring after the last frost, requiring a well-draining soil and partial sunlight. Seedlings emerge and develop into young plants that grow foliage and stems throughout the late spring and early summer. By mid to late summer, the plant reaches maturity and produces clusters of fragrant flowers in pink shades with a distinctive darker eye, attracting pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds. After blooming, the flowers wilfully fade, and the plant may set seed if the flowers have been pollinated, starting the cycle anew if the seeds are spread or fall to the ground. In fall, the plant begins to die back as temperatures drop, though the root system remains alive and enters a period of dormancy during the winter. With the return of warmer weather in the subsequent spring, the plant will regrow from its perennial rootstock, repeating its life cycle.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-early summer
Phlox paniculata, commonly known as Garden Phlox, is best propagated by division, ideally in early spring or early fall when the plant is not in active bloom. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the entire plant, making sure to keep a generous amount of soil around the roots. Using a sharp spade or knife, divide the clump into smaller sections, ensuring that each section has at least two to three shoots and a portion of the root system. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were previously growing and water them thoroughly. This method maintains the true characteristics of the 'Adessa Rose Eye' cultivar and allows for relatively quick establishment and flowering in subsequent seasons.
