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Colours of the rainbow
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Phlox, with its variety of colours and profuse blooms, looks best in rockeries, beds and window boxes.
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PHLOX DRUMMONDII belongs to the family Polemoniaceae and was discovered by Drummond, a botanist in Texas in the U.S. where it grows wild.
The brilliant colours of this annual make it a favourite in every garden.
No other flower can compare with it when it comes to variety of colours and profuseness of bloom. The flowers range from pure white to pink, primrose, scarlet, crimson, rose, lavender and purple.
Some are perfectly clear, while others have dark or white eyes.
The leaves are oblong and entire. The plant blooms for months and cuttings can be easily obtained, as the plants branch freely and continuously produce new blooms.
The cut flowers also last if placed in water. Liquid fertilizer is necessary once a week.
Phlox thrives best in open, sunny spaces and in light, sandy, soil. It looks attractive if grown closely as a border and in beds.
The various coloured varieties when planted in a border may be arranged to form a colourful rainbow.
Seeds are sown in seed pans or in light sandy beds with peat and rich soil during October and November. They usually germinate within two weeks and can be transplanted as soon as they are large enough to be handled. The plants should not be allowed to flower until they have grown to an extent and are bushy. Remove flowers from young plants to induce them to branch out. They will then produce better and more numerous flowers.
A good bed of phlox is a sight, which dazzles the eyes with its brilliance.
The flowers have, in addition, the charm of a mild sweet scent. They look their best in rockeries, beds and window boxes.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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