Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Phlox Sugar Stars
Phlox Sugar Stars
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Phlox 'Sugar Stars' Seeds
'Sugar Stars' is a magical variety that looks like a constellation has landed in your garden. It produces masses of star-shaped, almond-scented flowers in shades of violet-blue and indigo. The defining feature is the crisp white star pattern in the centre of each bloom, giving it a twinkling, bi-colour effect.
Unlike traditional creeping phlox, this variety grows upright (up to 40cm) on wiry stems, making it the perfect scale for posies and jam-jar arrangements. It blooms profusely from mid-summer until the first frost, creating a dense, bushy mound of colour that looks spectacular in terracotta pots or lining the front of a sunny border.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
This is an Annual Phlox (Phlox drummondii).
It completes its life cycle in one season. Unlike the tall perennial border phlox, this is a heat-loving annual that flowers continuously if deadheaded.
Awards: 'Sugar Stars' is a Fleuroselect Winner, meaning it has been rigorously tested by experts and proven to have superior garden performance, colour stability, and flower power compared to older varieties.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Phlox is easy to grow, but it has one specific quirk for germination.
Germination (The Dark Trick):
Sow indoors from March to May. Sow seeds on the surface of moist compost and cover completely with soil or vermiculite. Phlox seeds need darkness to germinate. You can place a piece of cardboard over the tray until they sprout. Keep warm (18-20°C). Germination takes 10-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They love full sun but appreciate soil that holds some moisture. If the soil gets too dry and hot, they can stop flowering, so water regularly.
Care While Growing:
Pinch: When seedlings are 10cm tall, pinch out the growing tip. This stops them being spindly and creates a lovely bushy plant.
Deadhead: Snip off faded flower clusters to encourage new side shoots and fresh buds.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Phlox drummondii |
| Common Name | Annual Phlox 'Sugar Stars' |
| Hardiness | H3 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 30cm - 40cm (Compact) |
| Spread | ↔️ 25cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 20cm apart |
| Great for | 🏺 Pots & Containers ✂️ Posies 👃 Sweet Scent 🦋 Butterflies |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The violet-blue of 'Sugar Stars' pairs beautifully with crisp whites and lemon yellows:
- 🍋 Larkspur 'Limelight Mix': The Fresh Contrast. The zesty lime-green and white spikes of the Larkspur provide height behind the low, bushy Phlox. The colours make each other sing.
- ☁️ Gypsophila 'Covent Garden': The Cloud Effect. Mixing the starry blue Phlox with the frothy white clouds of Gypsophila creates a dreamy, romantic container display that looks like a piece of the night sky.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Flowers mid-summer to early autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This variety is a Fleuroselect Winner, awarded for its outstanding garden performance and unique bicolour flower pattern.
