Phlox Peacock Cherry Red Rooted Cutting Liner

Phlox Peacock Cherry Red (also known as Garden Phlox or Summer Phlox) is a cultivar of Phlox Paniculata native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada. This perennial flower has an upright habit, reaching 18-24 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide. Peacock Cherry Red grows at a medium rate and will live for as many as ten years in ideal conditions; this variety is resistant to powdery mildew. Phlox is Greek for "flame", which describes this variety particularly well, as it blooms with magenta-red flowers from June-August. For a color variation, try Phlox Bright Eye; or pair the two for an overall extended bloom time, as Bright Eye blooms slightly later. Phlox is most commonly used in perennial borders and medium containers. Peacock Cherry Red pairs well with Leucanthemum Lucille Grace, Coreopsis Auriculata Nana, Perovskia Russian Sage, Aster, and Black-eyed Susan.

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Peacock Cherry Red Selling Tips

Sell Peacock Cherry Red to your customers who are looking for a colorful addition to their perennial border or mixed containers. Peacock Cherry Red offers numerous benefits. It is more resistant to powdery mildew than the species and attracts pollinators. It blooms June-August with clusters of small magenta-red flowers. In ideal conditions, Peacock Cherry Red will live for 10 years. This plant makes a lovely addition to the middle of borders, or as a pop of color at the center of mixed containers. Try Phlox Chattahoochee for a more low-maintenance spreading variety.

Coach your customer:

1. Plant in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil 15 inches apart or in 2-gallon or larger containers.
2. Deadhead to encourage continued blooming. Cut to base in fall and remove all spent plant parts from the garden.
3. Water regularly at the base of the plant. Do not allow for any standing water.
4. Powdery mildew and spider mites will be the biggest problems you run into with Peacock Cherry Red. Powdery mildew is especially troublesome in warm, humid climates. Take preventative measures by maintaining air circulation around the plant, using well-drained soil, and not overwatering. If powdery mildew sets in, remove any affected plant parts immediately.

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General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner

For best results with Peacock Cherry Red use well-drained soil in full sun with 100-175 ppm and a pH of 6.0-6.5. Plant one starter plant per 4-inch container. We recommend spacing containers 5-7 inches apart to allow for sufficient airflow. You may see spidermites, stem eelworm, phlox plant bug, or stalk borer moth. Powdery mildew is the biggest concern with phlox, although this cultivar is resistant.

Flowering

Peacock Cherry Red flowers June-August. Deadhead flowers to encourage continuous blooming.

Pinching

Peacock Cherry Red does not require pinching.

Spacing

Space containers 5-7 inches apart for airflow.

Height Control

Peacock Cherry Red does not need chemical growth regulators.

Pests

You may see stem eelworm, spider mites, the phlox plant bug, and stalk borer moths. Spider mites are the most troublesome pest for Phlox.

Disease

Powdery mildew is the major disease issue with Phlox. This cultivar is resistant, but take the following precautions for prevention. Water plants at the base in the morning so they can dry out before nightfall. Space plants to allow for sufficient airflow; horizontal airflow fans are also effective at preventing outbreaks. You may also try spraying Strike, Systhane (Eagle), Pipron, Terraguard, Heritage, or others to prevent powdery mildew.

Planting Peacock Cherry Red Liners

1. We recommend planting 1 starter plant per 4-inch pot. Use a well-drained soil in your containers and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil.
2. Water plants at the base in the morning so they can dry out before nightfall.

Rooted Cuttings

Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.

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