What a wonderful bargain -- long-lived, hardy Garden Phlox from seed! A cut-flower lover's dream, this mix takes the best hybrids and combines them all in one super-economical seed packet. No more buying pricey plants or paying for a named variety when all you want is the lovely color! Bee's Bouquet has it all!

Phlox paniculata is a native American perennial containing the nectar that pollinators love, so you can expect a steady parade of bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to visit your plants all season long. Upright and very densely branched, this perennial has the impact of a small shrub. And the blooms are magnificent, with a sweet fragrance many of us associate with our earliest garden memories. Great as cut-flowers, they are also charming in the sunny border. You just can't go wrong with Phlox!

Bee's Bouquet contains the latest hybrids, which is important because the breeding of this perennial has made great strides in recent years. Time was that those of us in humid or rainy climates could enjoy only a short season of Phlox, because powdery mildew was such an enemy of damp foliage. Now, however, mildew-resistant strains keep our plants looking fresh all season.

This mix contains all the classic Phlox colors: pure white, every shade of pink, rose, salmon, magenta, lavender, lilac, and more. The sizes of these plants will vary, but generally speaking you can expect them to reach 2 to 4 feet high and up to 2 feet wide. Bloom time is typically midsummer in all but the warmest climates, and can continue sporadically into fall, with the heaviest flowering occurring early in the season.

The individual flowers on Hardy Garden Phlox are small, but they are very numerous and so closely spaced that they form a dome or canopy of solid color. These plumes reach 6 inches long or wide. Even better, the habit of this plant is branching, so the flowering stems divide and produce several towers of sweetly fragrant lavender-pink on every branch!

Now, let's talk about how to sow and grow this seed. Phlox will not be the easiest plant you ever start from seed, but much of the "difficulty" is really patience, not effort. First, understand that Phlox seeds need a cold period in order to germinate. You can give them this naturally by sowing them outdoors in fall, or you can pop the seed packet into the refrigerator for a month when it arrives.

Once the seeds have chilled, you can either pop them into the Bio Dome or sow them in seed flats. If using the Bio Dome, just make sure that the seed actually drops into the pre-drilled hole in the bio sponge. If using any other method, cover the seed well with seed-starting mix and/or start them in a dark room. The seeds need darkness to germinate, and they will take their time, often not sprouting for 30 days. A temperature in the 40s or 50s is best for germination -- a cool garage or garden shed works well, as long as it doesn't actually approach freezing.

Once you see green sprouts, the hard work (and waiting!) is over. Grow the seedlings on in a cool room, and transplant them when the seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves and all danger of spring frost is past.

Like all garden Phlox, Bee's Bouquet is a heavy feeder, so work in lots of organic matter all spring. This plant also likes consistent moisture, so don't let it dry out completely. You are going to love your Hardy Garden Phlox for many years to come! Enjoy this exciting mix. Zones 4-8.