Floks, płomyk — Phlox
This genus includes many species, which can be divided into two groups: low phloxes and high phloxes.
The most important and valued representative in the group of low phloxes is rock phlox. It is a plant 10-15 cm high, forming from a large mass of long ones, creeping shoots dense carpets. A great number of flowers completely cover this plant during flowering. The flowers of the garden varieties are white, pink, carmine or lilac blue. They bloom in late April or early May.
The soil requirements of rock phloxes are low. They also grow quite well in shaded places. They are completely resistant to frost. They are particularly suitable for the so-called. rock gardens and for planting flower walls.
They are propagated by cuttings and - to a small extent - by dividing older plants.
The most important and very valuable representative of the tall phlox group is paniculate phlox. Its garden varieties are distinguished by height from 40 do 120 cm. Flowering period - from mid-July to the end of August. The color of flowers is white, blue and red in a wide range of shades.
Phloxes require fertile and sufficiently moist soil. They tolerate light shading well. In the following years after planting, they should be carefully fertilized, and after 3–5 years to replant to new positions. Phloxes are very sensitive to too shallow planting, in most varieties, the old plant is "pushed" out by newly emerging roots in the spring. Therefore, dividing the plants and replanting every few years is highly recommended. A very important care procedure is pinching the tops of young shoots in order to cause more abundant flowering and early cutting of faded inflorescences, which in many cases causes repeated flowering.
Phloxes reproduce by division and - on a large scale - by cuttings from young shoots. It is also possible to propagate from root cuttings.
The use of tall phloxes is very wide. They are the basic perennials that bloom during the summer and make it possible to create very interesting combinations with other plants. Many varieties are suitable for cut flowers.
Funkia - Hosta
This genus includes several species, which are grown and used in! gardens due to the very nice foliage. They are plants with large leaves, often striped in white or yellow, length from 30 do 50 cm. Some species and varieties bloom quite showy, flowers, however, play a minor decorative role. Plant height - from 30 do 70 cm.
Funkies are very lively and long-lived plants. They grow best in fertile soil, sufficiently moist. Light shading produces much larger and better colored leaves. The leaves of plants growing in strongly sunlit and dry places are small and often fade ("Scorching"). All species are completely frost-resistant. These plants are among the easiest to grow.
It reproduces funkies by dividing older plants.
Gęsiówka - Arab
Varieties of the geese are cultivated in the gardens. They are low plants, from 10 do 20 cm, forming a compact carpet of evergreen, slightly mossy leaves. These plants are also valued for their decorative leaves (sometimes with white edges), and because of abundant flowering. White flowers, pink or red. They bloom in late April or early May, very abundantly.
Gęsiówka is a plant with low soil requirements. It grows well even in less fertile and dry soils. Requires a lot of light. In mid-summer, it is recommended that the plants be trimmed to form a new one, dense foliage and light plant cover, protecting against drying leaves during the winter.
The goose breeds, quite difficult, from cuttings.
It is a plant extremely valuable for planting fragments of rock walls, etc..