Phlox paniculata 'Verscan' Bambini^® CANDY CRUSH

I love seeing that even so called old-fashioned plants such as perennial phlox still attract breeders’ attention and they invest time and energy in crossbreeding and selecting new, hardier, healthier, and more beautiful varieties. With the turn of the millenium all seems to be getting smaller - not just electronics, plants as well. Dutch breeder Janus Verschoor comes with a new series of compact, almost dwarf panical phlox called Bambini^®. They make compact plants with shorter stems but large flowers, and are less prone to powdery mildew.

Bambini^® CANDY CRUSH is a dwarf panical phlox with pink and white flowers like a funfair candy. The panicles are smaller but single flowers have the same size like the tall varieties. They open continuously for almost 3 months. Once the main panicle has finished flowering, remove it to encourage formation of smaller ones along the stems. The flowers are fragrant and attract butterflies. Deciduous leaves are rich green and totally disease resistant.

Growing phlox is easy. It likes almost any garden soil, fertile or poor, but with enough nutrients the flowering will be heavier and the plant will not suffer common phlox diseases. They are long-lived plants that will stay in your garden until you dig them out. Full sun is best but partial shade will do, never let the soil dry out completely. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4) and suitable for outdoor pots.

Last update 08-07-2019