Phlox SWEET SUMMER™ 'Purple White' perennial phlox

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. SWEET SUMMER™ is a great series that proves this fact. In late 2013 there were 10 registered varieties and Purple White is the latest addition so far, 11th.

SWEET SUMMER™ Purple White phlox amazed us for multiple reasons. It is a perennial of unique colour combination – the flowers come out rich purple pink and mature to almost white with only purple lining, and occasionally small purple eye in the centre. The contrast between the white petals and its dark purple margins is striking and the only thing that can top this beauty is the foliage health and deep green colour. Even in early autumn when most other perennials begin looking exhausted and worn out, Purple White phlox stands out like a glowing lighthouse among all the others, offering new and new flowers from large flower heads, and very dark green, lanceolate, powdery mildew-free leaves and stems. It flowers from early summer until autumn.

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 29-09-2013