'John Fanick' and 'Victoria'
If you like to have butterflies in your summer
garden, then summer phlox, Phlox paniculata, should be a staple
in your flower beds. In midsummer, when the spring flowers have
faded, summer phlox will bring clouds of butterflies to your garden
and even attract a few hummingbirds. In addition, you will have
bouquets of fragrant flowers that can be used as cut flowers in
Phlox paniculata is native in the eastern
third of the United States. In the 1700's Europeans found these
plants growing wild in damp meadows, along forest edges and in
the rich soils of flood plains and saw their potential as garden
plants. Their showy, fragrant flowers quickly became a hit throughout
Europe and by the mid 1800's they were commonly available in the
nursery trade. By the 1950's there were hundreds of varieties
available as the result of breeding programs in England, Russia,
Germany and Holland. As a result many varieties were planted throughout
Europe and North America but in the intervening years many of
these have disappeared from the commercial trade.
Although summer phlox is common to old gardens
throughout the southeastern United States, the number of varieties
found in old Texas gardens are limited. Most of the introduced
varieties are prone to powdery mildew, spider mites, and do not
tolerate the heat of our Texas summers. However, in the early
1990's, Greg Grant observed a row of summer phlox with showy clusters
of light pink with a darker pink throat flowers growing in Saint
Augustine grass, half under a live oak and half in the sun in
southeast San Antonio. It was the only color other than magenta
pink that he had ever seen as a surviving perennial in a southern
garden. Greg received some plants from the lady who owned the
house and it was included in a Texas Superstar trial of summer
phlox. Results of those trials at several locations across the
state indicated that this was the top performing summer phlox
along with the standard variety of phlox found in old Texas gardens.
However, there was no name for this plant.
The lady and house were gone. John Fanick of Fanick's Gardens
in San Antonio thought that he had carried the plant at one time
but he also had no name for it. Since the lady and her house had
been close to the nursery, we believe that is where it had come
from. When John died suddenly, the plant was named in honor of
John, i.e., the 'John Fanick' phlox. The other summer phlox that
did well was the old standby for southern gardens which is named
'Victoria'. Victoria has lighter green foliage and a more open
growth habit than 'John Fanick.' .
In general, summer phlox prefer fertile soils
high in organic matter, but both 'John Fanick' and 'Victoria'
(the name given to the old standard garden phlox) perform fairly
well in less desirable situations. In general, these perennials
can grow to more than 3 feet in height but fertility will greatly
influence ultimate plant height.
Both varieties grow in full sun to light shade
but are best in full sun. Although both varieties are tolerant
of powdery mildew planting them in areas of good air circulation
(space well and thin out stems as needed) will lessen any potential
powdery mildew problems. Avoid overhead watering will also lessen
any disease problems. Appreciates a summer mulch which helps keep
the root zone cool. Remove faded flower panicles to prolong bloom
period. To propagate them, you can divide clumps in the spring
or take tip cuttings in spring and early summer. Neither variety
comes true from seed.