A Mildew-resistant Rebloomer
Fascinating two-tone rosy-pink blooms
What a pleasure it is to grow today's new mildew-resistant varieties, so vastly improved from the fussy Phlox of the past! 'Miss Elie' can be planted fearlessly even in crowded settings, its well-branched, floriferous habit holding its own while its sweet-scented, charming two-tone blooms catch the eye even from a distance. For brilliant color twice a year with less maintenance than ever, rely on this splendid new hardy garden Phlox. 'Miss Elie' sets giant clusters of blooms up to 12 inches long, each flower a soft shade of pink with a rosy-red bull's-eye. Absolutely tops for cutting, they also make stunning focal points for the sunny garden. And because the foliage on this plant is so healthy and the growth so vigorous, expect many more blooms than on older varieties. 'Miss Elie' has been known to spread 3 feet wide, every inch boasting new flowering stems! The first bloom occurs in midsummer in most climates, when the sunny border is really coming into its own. The rebloom, which will be much heavier and more impressive if the first flush of flowers is cut or deadheaded promptly, occurs late in the season, typically in early fall, which can be a very quiet time for color in the garden. It is all the more valuable, then, appearing when the sunny border is "in between" seasons. 'Miss Elie' reaches 3 to 4 feet high (in bloom) and 2 to 3 feet wide. Hummingbirds and butterflies consider it a frequent stopping-place, and neighboring plants benefit from its sweet, heady scent. It makes a nice companion to the compact Phlox 'Red Riding Hood, as well as to other summer bloomers from hardy Geranium to Campanula. Plant it in groups of 3 or more in very rich, well-drained soil, and watch it bloom freely over two seasons. There is no more generous, low-maintenance hardy garden Phlox! Zones 4-8.
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