Product Description
Phlox p. 'Fancy Girl' PP36599 - GARDEN GIRLS® Collection (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Tall Garden Phlox
Introducing 'Fancy Girl' Phlox, a captivating addition to the GARDEN GIRLS® Collection, renowned for its exceptional disease resistance and reblooming capabilities. This Phlox paniculata cultivar showcases soft pink flowers, each adorned with a distinct dark pink eye encircled by a delicate white halo. From a distance, the overall effect is a charming blushing pink, adding a touch of elegance to the summer garden. 'Fancy Girl' inherits the prized characteristics of its flagship predecessor, 'Glamour Girl', particularly its impressive resistance to powdery mildew, a common affliction for many Tall Garden Phlox varieties. Rigorously tested in the hot, humid summers of Michigan, 'Fancy Girl' proudly maintains its dark green foliage well into the fall, a testament to its robust health.
Tall Garden Phlox are beloved perennials by gardeners worldwide and are a staple of North American native plant gardens. They are unequaled for their showy blooms over an extended period in summer, providing a vibrant burst of color. These plants are also a favorite of numerous pollinators, including butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, making them a vital component of a biodiverse garden.
- Height: Reaches a mature height of 24 to 30 inches (61-76 cm).
- Spread: Forms a clump with a spread of 20 to 24 inches (51-61 cm).
- Foliage: Features healthy, dark green foliage that resists powdery mildew and maintains its color well into fall.
- Flowers: Soft pink flowers with a dark pink eye and a white halo, creating a blushing pink appearance from a distance.
- Bloomtime: Blooms profusely from Midsummer through Late Summer, with reblooming capabilities that extend the floral display for a long blooming period.
- Flower Color: Pink shades
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Bloomtime: Midsummer, Late Summer, Rebloomer, Long Blooming
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Attracts Wings: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Bee Friendly
- Other Features: Border Plant, Cut Flower, Fragrant Flowers, Mass Planting.
Phlox paniculata 'Fancy Girl' is a patented variety (PP36599) and a distinguished member of the GARDEN GIRLS® Collection, signifying its superior performance and unique attributes. Its strong resistance to powdery mildew, combined with its reblooming nature and attractive soft pink flowers, makes it a highly desirable choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. This cultivar offers the classic charm of Tall Garden Phlox without the common maintenance challenges associated with disease susceptibility.
Phlox paniculata, the species from which 'Fancy Girl' was bred, is native to the eastern and central United States, typically found in moist woodlands, open fields, and along stream banks. This natural habitat preference for rich, moist soils and areas with good air circulation is key to understanding its cultivation requirements.
Landscaping Design Tips
'Fancy Girl' Phlox is an excellent choice for adding vertical interest, vibrant color, and attracting pollinators to a variety of garden settings.
- Border Plant: Its upright habit and prolonged bloom make it an ideal choice for the middle or back of perennial borders, providing consistent color and structure.
- Mass Planting: For a stunning visual impact, plant 'Fancy Girl' in masses. Large groupings create a breathtaking display of blushing pink flowers and healthy green foliage, enhancing the garden's visual flow and attracting a multitude of pollinators. This technique is particularly effective in larger beds or along property lines.
- Cottage Gardens: A quintessential plant for cottage gardens, where its informal charm and abundant blooms blend beautifully with other traditional perennials.
- Pollinator Gardens: An indispensable addition to pollinator gardens, its nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for butterflies, hummingbirds, and various bee species, contributing significantly to garden biodiversity.
- Cut Flower Garden: The lovely pink blooms are excellent as cut flowers, bringing their beauty and subtle fragrance indoors for arrangements.
- Eclectic and Rain Gardens: Its adaptability to moist conditions and overall resilience allow it to fit well into eclectic garden designs and even rain gardens, provided drainage is still adequate.
- Fragrant Flowers: Plant near patios or walkways to enjoy the pleasant fragrance emitted by its blooms.
Phlox paniculata 'Fancy Girl' is a robust and cold-hardy perennial, reliably performing in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8. This wide hardiness range makes it suitable for a broad array of climates.
Planting and Cultivation (Bare Root)
- Bare Root Planting: Upon receiving bare roots, unpack them immediately. If dry, soak in lukewarm water for 30-60 minutes. Dig a hole wide enough to comfortably spread out the roots and deep enough so that the crown (where the roots meet the stem) is at or slightly below the soil surface. Gently spread the roots outwards. Backfill with soil, gently firming to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly immediately after planting.
- Sunlight: For the best flowering performance and to minimize powdery mildew concerns, locate 'Fancy Girl' in Full Sun (more than 6 hours of direct sun per day). It can tolerate Part Shade (4-6 hours of direct sun), but flowering may be reduced, and powdery mildew risk might slightly increase.
- Soil Requirements: Grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soil. It performs well in Average Soil Quality to Fertile Soil Quality. It is adaptable to both Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) and Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0) chemistry. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
- Water Requirements: Requires Average Water Needs. It thrives with consistent moisture levels. Avoid overhead watering, as this can exacerbate powdery mildew. Water at the base of the plant to keep foliage dry.
- Fertilization: Will thrive with fertilization every other month during the growing season.
- Maintenance:
- Air Circulation: Ensure ample air circulation around the plants. When planting, space them appropriately, and consider thinning out congested stems periodically to improve airflow, which helps prevent powdery mildew.
- Deadheading: Deadheading spent flowers will prolong the bloom time and prevent the plant from self-seeding, which helps maintain the desired cultivar characteristics.
- Powdery Mildew: While 'Fancy Girl' is highly resistant, providing full sun, good air circulation, and avoiding overhead watering are the best preventative measures against powdery mildew.
- Pest and Disease: Highly resistant to powdery mildew. Generally robust but monitor for common garden pests if necessary.
Mature field grown roots shipped bare root.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
