Phlox 'Cherry Caramel '
Phlox drummondii
 
Phlox drummondii 'Cherry Caramel ' is just one of the fabulous new annual varieties of phlox that feature fashionable new colorways combined with a delicious scent. Clusters of blooms in a range of subtle colours: soft caramel and buff shades, some blooms have a dark eye while others are marbled and speckled.
 
Perfect for weddings or any stylish bouquet
 
Taller than some varieties, the plants grow to a height of around 20in tall, and spread to around 30cm (12in) wide. They have a branching habit and produce abundant flowers with a sweet candy fragrance from mid summer through autumn.

They are uniform, have outstanding weather tolerance and will flower from mid July right through the summer until October and maintain a tidy habit throughout the season. The flowers have a lovely fragrance and are splendid for cutting, lasting a week to ten days in the vase. The sheer variety of starry blooms make each stem a standout specimen.
 
Details:
Life Cycle: Annual
Site: Full sun
Height: 16-20”
Germination: 1-21 days
Days to maturity: 60-65 days
Seed depth: 1/4"
Pinch: when 3" high
Plant spacing: 9-12”
Approx seeds per packet: 100
 
Sowing: Sow from early spring to early summer, February to May
Seeds can be stated early indoors in late winter to early summer or can be sown directly outdoors where they are to flower. Seeds can be also sown in autumn, they make fine spring flowering pot plants for the cool greenhouse. 65 days sowing to flowering. 
Sowing Direct: 
Choose a sunny, well-drained site, and amend it with compost or well-rotted manure. Direct sow ¼" deep in spring, as soon as the ground can be worked. Pinch seedlings when they are 3" tall to promote branching, and thin to 8in apart. Maintain soil moisture all season, and fertilize monthly with a water-soluble fertilizer, following label directions. 
Sowing Indoors: 
Sow in spring about 5 to 7 weeks before the last frost date (around May). Sow 1/16" deep in into pots or trays containing John Innes or similar free draining seed compost. Make sure that the compost is moist but not wet and cover or seal in a polythene bag, exclude light until after germination which usually takes 10 to 21 days at 55- 60°F. 
Transplant when large enough to handle into 8cm (3in) pots to grow on.
Pinch out the growing points when 3" high to ensure a bushy habit. 
Annual phlox seedlings should be hardened off before transplanting to the garden. Put them outdoors in a sheltered spot for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their time outdoors over the course of a week. Plant out 20cm (8in) apart into rich well drained soil and full sun.
 
How to harvest:
Cut flower stems can be harvested, when first flowers per stem are just open. Remove the bottom leaves
 
Vase Life: 
With a proper care and handling will last for 10 -14 days