Gro 'n Sell
Phlox Magical Series (NEW!)
The New Phlox Magical series offers an economical way to establish large plantings of perennial Phlox! These are grown in smaller plug format rather than our larger perennial size.
You may know the Magical name as a trademark of Kolster Breeding in the Netherlands, one of our primary partners in woody plants for cutting. Well, they also breed perennials for cutting and these are the first we are offering. Look out for more next spring! These are produced in conjunction with Danziger to offer a steady supply of desirable varieties.
The Magical series of Phlox paniculata is bred for mildew resistance, abundant production of tall straight stems, strong ability to re-bloom after cutting. They should be as fully hard as other Phlox paniculata varieties.
You may want to pot these into 3-4" pots on arrival to baby them a bit before transplant in the field. Fall planting will result in harvest in the following summer.
This variety is grown in a 51 cell half tray. Two such trays packed side-by-side are the equivalent of one full sized tray. One full box of plugs from Gro 'n Sell contains 3 full trays, 6 half trays, or any combination thereof. A list of all compatible half trays can be found here.
They are patent protected and propagation is strictly prohibited. Got it? We only get amazing new varieties like these if we play by the rules and give the breeders their share (which they clearly deserve).
Available in fall and spring
As always, order in quantities of 3 full trays per ship date. As these are half trays, you can order half trays of other items (such as Veronica, Hypericum, Gypsophila) and full trays to fill up your box. (for example 2 half trays + 2 full trays = 3 trays)
Photos courtesy of Kolster
About Tray Sizes (please read)
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivalent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box. These trays are long and skinny. (Think hotdogs). There are not compatible with 25 cell half trays. Scoop scabiosa, veronica, solidago, gypsophila, hypericum, herbs, some tweedia, and others are grown in the 50 cell tray.
*Chrysanthemums are grown in the same 50 cell half tray as mentioned above, but due to their height, they take up twice as much space. So TWO half trays of mums takes up 2/3 of the box.
25 cell half trays are also half-sized trays, but they are short and square. (Think hamburgers). These are not compatible with 50 cell half trays. Limonium and astrantia are grown in this tray.
Gerberas are also grown in a 25 cell half tray, but are tall that the others, and FOUR of these half trays of gerberas fills a box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | garden phlox, summer phlox, fall phlox, tall phlox |
| Genus | Phlox |
| Species | P. paniculata |
| Family | Polemoniaceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy Perennial |
| Format | Perennial Plugs |
| Plug Care | Pot up or plant soon after arrival. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary but 1-2 layers of netting could be beneficial for taller varieties in windy zones. |
| Temperature Range | Hardiness zones 4-8 |
| Spacing | 12-24" |
| Soil Preference | Fertile, moist but well draining soil. Amend soil with compost and granular fertilizer before planting for best results. |
| Day Length | Long day plants - flower in the summer. Plant in full sun. |
| Pinching | Do not pinch |
| When to Plant | Plant plugs in the spring upon arrival. They may arrive looking dead, or with no top growth at all - this is because they are still dormant and have not yet woken up. If new growth has started, keep from freezing. |
| Harvesting | Expect a few flowers the first season after planting, but the main harvest will come 2-3 years after planting when the plants have matured. Harvest stems when a few of the flowers have opened and the remaining buds will open in the vase. After harvesting, cut the remaining stem down to the ground and the plant will resprout and reflower in the same year, extending your harvest. |
| Post Harvest Care | Place cut stems immediately into cool water. Can be stored in the cooler for a short time - best to use a floral conditioner. |
| Diseases / Insects | Perennial phlox are notorious for getting powdery mildew in some areas, especially zones with warm, wet, humid summers. All varieties offered by Farmer Bailey have some level of resistance bred into them. Avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry. |
| Bailey's Notes |
"The Fashionably Early series is one of my favorites, and it does indeed bloom early, is disease free and will give 2-3 flushes of blooms per season." As tall phlox becomes overcrowded, flower production will decrease. You may need to divide them every 3-4 years. |
| Resources | NA |