Did you end up ordering any of them? I have been thinking of trying them too but I don't see a lot of info out there about them yet.

I have three kinds of Phlox Sweet Summer in my (Dutch) garden: Sweet Summer Dream, Sweet Summer Melody and Sweet Summer Sensation. I like them all. They are quite short, about 50/60 cm, flower brilliantly and for me they are totally free of diseases.

I bought them last winter so have yet to see how they grow (from Santa Rosa), but I was worried they would be short little things and I'd rather they were taller. Still I tried them, looked for a few which were listed as at least 3o inches (~75cm) and will hope for the best. Right now the first is setting buds but it has yet to break the 7 inch barrier :) -some of the varieties are listed as very short (18 inches) so keep an eye out for that. I's not like this series is all one height.

Has anyone had luck with these this summer?

Mine bloom well but haven't broken the 8 inch barrier. I'm wondering if they are still working through some plant hormone treatment from the grower or if they will shoot up a little better next year. My hope is for taller plants next year since these are barely outcompeting the marigolds.

Also noted that there seems to be little information about the Sweet Summer series on-line. The first members were introduced in 2012-2103 after 8 years of testing. The introduction (see reference below) says that these plants are distinguished "from regular types in many ways: dark leaves and stems, dark buds and new flower colours".

Haven't seen any for sale in garden centres here. Want to see Phlox paniculata cultivars in flower before I buy them.

http://www.ditoplant.nl/?p=pagina&s=10&lang=en

Patty- How is Peacock White with your roses? How is powdery mildew resistance? I saw a pic on HMF of 'Berolina' rose and white phlox.

Isn't the combo gorgeous?

Sharon

Sharon

Wow, really nice combo. I've had about every phlox panicutala imaginable. Peacock White is hands down the best I have ever found. No disease at all in the five years that it has grown here, wish the rose could be as healthy as this phlox. Honestly I have considered PW as the perennial find of a life time. To top it off is truly short. I got mine when Santa Rosa first carried it. I now have spread 40 clumps thru out the garden to see where it goes best. It also blooms early and straight thru to freeze. It has never been taller than three feet but will stay at two feet if I don't let the clump get large.

I think it is Garden Crossings that carries the pink Peacock they cost so much thou that I have been afraid to try it. I did get a bunch of the Peacock Red but so far each year they have all mildewed. At least with Santa Rosa you can afford a mistake.

Patty- Thanks for all the info. Isn't that combo gorgeous? I wonder if I should buy it now. I just received a 35% off coupon that expires Aug 21. I'm just not sure how the plants will do over winter with fall planting.

Sharon

Well Patty, I decided to place an order. 35% off was too hard to resist :-)

Sharon

Patty, Peacock White tall enough to cut for use in a vase? Always looking for new varieties for my cutting garden. Thanks.

Dick after the first year I would say yes. I just went out and measured the tallest one and it stands at 25 inches. I am still amazed at this phlox. This was my towns driest year ever while towns around us like Chicago had record rains. So Iexpiremented with a few of PW. I let a few go without water until some of the stems died still no mildew. She is as healthy as Coral Cream Drop. CCD just gets to tall for use by the roses.

Keep in mind that I don’t have the worlds longest growing season. In a normal season (if there is one again) my Phlox will start to grow in late March to early April. Not sure if that would make a difference as she starts to set buds at a 1 1/2 feet.

Sharon, I have always gotten mine at the end of the season sale. Sometimes they weren’t in the greatest shape. Well what would be after hanging out for months in a tiny pot. Any way some entered winter with one little stem and survived. I was not to confident that they would.

Thank you, Patty!

Patty, mine look great and flower like crazy. Thanks for suggesting this great phlox for my garden :-). Mine are probably around the same height as yours and no disease at all.

Sharon

Sharon, I’m so happy they are working for you. I get nervous recommending a plant. I waited as long as I could before speaking up. Just couldn’t fined anything wrong with this phlox. Thanks for sharing your experience as well. Makes me feel better for having mentioned it.

:-)