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Growth Rate
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Moderate; quickly forms compact, bushy clumps.
Clumps expand gradually and should be divided every 3–4 years.
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Colorful leaves
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Flowering
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Yes |
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Bloom Color
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Disease resistant
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No |
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Cold Tolerant
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Yes |
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Heat Tolerant
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No |
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Drought Tolerant
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No |
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Deer Resistant
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Yes |
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Edible
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No |
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Wildlife Attraction
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Nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Deer resistant, making it reliable in wildlife-prone areas.
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Self-pollinating
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Seasonality
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Spring: foliage emerges, forming bushy mounds.
Summer: peak flowering with vivid rose-pink blooms.
Fall: bloom season tapers, foliage declines with frost.
Winter: dormant, crown rests until spring.
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Ideal For
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– Cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, cutting gardens, containers, mixed borders, compact urban spaces |
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Leaf Description
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Narrow, lance-shaped green foliage forms a dense, compact mound.
Provides a lush, contrasting backdrop for the vivid blooms.
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Flower Description
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Bright rose-pink blooms with darker pink eyes form dense, fragrant clusters.
Flowers are long-lasting, vibrant, and excellent for cutting.
Compact size makes blooms appear profuse and eye-catching.
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Planting Instructions
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Plant in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
Space plants 12–18 inches apart to allow airflow and reduce mildew risk.
Place the crown level with the soil surface and water thoroughly after planting.
Best planted in spring or early fall for strong establishment.
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Pruning & Maintenance
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Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering and encourage rebloom.
Cut stems to ground level after frost in fall or in early spring.
Pinching back young shoots in spring encourages bushier, compact growth.
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Water Needs
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Requires consistent moisture, especially during hot summer months.
Prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil.
Mulching helps retain soil moisture and protect roots from heat.
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Light Needs
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- Full sun (6+ hours daily) for strongest flowering and fragrance.
Light afternoon shade is tolerated in hotter regions to protect from stress.
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Harvesting
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Excellent cut flower; harvest stems when one-third to half the florets are open.
Deadhead to extend blooming in the garden.
Not typically used dried, but valued for fresh arrangements.
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Fertilizing
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Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring as new growth appears.
Provide a midseason feeding to support extended bloom performance.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leaves over flowers.
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Pollination
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- Insect-pollinated; attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Cross-pollination is possible between phlox varieties, but cultivars are best propagated by cuttings or division.
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Companion Plants
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Summer perennials like Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Coreopsis, and Monarda.
Ornamental grasses such as Pennisetum or Panicum for textural contrast.
Cottage garden partners like Salvia, Nepeta, and Shasta Daisy.
Works well with roses, adding long-lasting color and fragrance.
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