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Gardening

Invasive beauty

(16 Posts)
Ro60 Wed 11-Aug-21 23:29:49

This was given to my friend (still trying to get her to join GN)
It's now taking over her garden - beautiful as it is - but what is it?

Whew! New skill mastered 2:1 - 1st post And attached a pic

Silverbridge Wed 11-Aug-21 23:44:47

I think it's Phlox paniculata Bright Eyes.

fairfraise Thu 12-Aug-21 06:55:54

I agree - it's phlox. I have loads in white. Highly scented.

Katie59 Thu 12-Aug-21 09:39:29

Invasive?. I’m looking at a large vase full in the lounge I t’s lovely, there is a patch alongside my fence, certainly not a problem in my garden.

25Avalon Thu 12-Aug-21 09:46:38

Phlox paniculata and it is welcome to come and invade my garden.

Trisha57 Thu 12-Aug-21 09:49:43

Definitely phlox. It's not invasive in my garden, the clumps just grow larger each year. Easy to dig up and divide, discard the exhausted middle bits and plant the outside sections. Or just give away any clumps you don't want (I never throw good plants away, just can't do it!!)

Silverbridge Thu 12-Aug-21 09:50:08

I'd describe it as vigorous rather than invasive. The white one is more problematic.

Trisha57 Thu 12-Aug-21 09:50:33

Interestingly, I have a clump of blue phlox that has never flowered although the growth is very healthy. Any ideas, anyone?

Silverbridge Thu 12-Aug-21 10:14:43

Bucket of humus maybe? They don't like poor, sandy soil.

Ro60 Thu 12-Aug-21 10:33:51

Thanks folks ? Goodness knows what she feeds her garden but it always thrives - rhubarb the side of chair legs, strawberries like plums. I'm the picture I think it's taking over her agapanthus.

Info passed on & glad I'm too far away to dig up the clumps with her ?

Trisha57 Thu 12-Aug-21 11:50:45

They're in clay soil and I've added home-made compost every year since I planted them (about 4 years ago). Maybe they're just "blind" plants but I'm reluctant to give up on them as the foliage is so healthy!

Silverbridge Thu 12-Aug-21 16:37:50

I'm wondering if anyone else has had more success with clumps you may have given away.

Plants are both amazing and perplexing things, aren't they? I have a big, moody pot of agapanthus. I do all the right things according to RHS advice but it's still a lottery whether I get flowers of not. Some summers it's just a pot of healthy leaves just like your phlox. It's flowering beautifully this year considering all the weird weather we've had.

CV2020 Fri 13-Aug-21 13:42:34

It’s a Phlox and usually really scented.

CV2020 Fri 13-Aug-21 13:49:09

Me too re Agapanthus. Planted in big pot, only put 3 in. I’ve lost one and the other two only put out leaves. This is second summer. I’ve given them a severe talking to. I’m giving them until next summer to come into flower or they are in the bin!
I’ve fed them and followed RHS website advice too.
I sowed some annuals around them this year and they are doing well.
I had the same problem with a Peony, which was in flower when I bought it a number of years ago, then no flowers for four years. The talking too worked as it flowered this year!

Esspee Fri 13-Aug-21 14:29:25

I have lots of phlox in a variety of colours but not one of them is invasive.
At this time of year they are great at replacing summer colour that has gone over.

Ro60 Sat 14-Aug-21 00:24:03

CV2020 I thought Agapanthus liked poorer soil. (thinking wild in Jersey & further afield) Mine seem to thrive on neglect in their cramped pots.