Bee's Bouquet Hardy Phlox Seeds
All the Bright Colors You Love!
Fragrant, pollinator-attracting, and great for cutting!
- Genus: Phlox
- Species: paniculata
- Variety: 'Bee's Bouquet Mix'
- Item Form: (P) Pkt of 50 seeds
- Zone: 4 - 8
- Bloom Start to End: Mid Summer - Early Fall
- Habit: Mound-shaped
- Seeds Per Pack: 50
- Plant Height: 24 in - 4 ft
- Plant Width: 24 in
- Bloom Size: 6 in
- Additional Characteristics: Bloom First Year, Butterfly Lovers, Fragrance, Free Bloomer, Hummingbird Lovers, Long Bloomers, Repeat Bloomer, Rose Companions, Season Extenders, Seedless/Sterile, Cut-and-Come-Again
- Bloom Color: Cream, Light Lavender, Light Purple, Mix, Pink, Rose, White
- Foliage Color: Medium Green
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained
- Resistance: Cold Hardy, Disease Resistant, Heat Tolerant, Pest Resistant, Powdery Mildew
- Soil Tolerance: Normal, loamy
- Uses: Border, Cut Flowers, Outdoor
- show more
What a wonderful bargain -- long-lived, hardy Garden Phlox from seed! A cut-flower lover's dream, this mix takes the best hybrids and combines them all in one super-economical seed packet. No more buying pricey plants or paying for a named variety when all you want is the lovely color! Bee's Bouquet has it all!
Phlox paniculata is a native American perennial containing the nectar that pollinators love, so you can expect a steady parade of bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to visit your plants all season long. Upright and very densely branched, this perennial has the impact of a small shrub. And the blooms are magnificent, with a sweet fragrance many of us associate with our earliest garden memories. Great as cut-flowers, they are also charming in the sunny border. You just can't go wrong with Phlox!
Bee's Bouquet contains the latest hybrids, which is important because the breeding of this perennial has made great strides in recent years. Time was that those of us in humid or rainy climates could enjoy only a short season of Phlox, because powdery mildew was such an enemy of damp foliage. Now, however, mildew-resistant strains keep our plants looking fresh all season.
This mix contains all the classic Phlox colors: pure white, every shade of pink, rose, salmon, magenta, lavender, lilac, and more. The sizes of these plants will vary, but generally speaking you can expect them to reach 2 to 4 feet high and up to 2 feet wide. Bloom time is typically midsummer in all but the warmest climates, and can continue sporadically into fall, with the heaviest flowering occurring early in the season.
The individual flowers on Hardy Garden Phlox are small, but they are very numerous and so closely spaced that they form a dome or canopy of solid color. These plumes reach 6 inches long or wide. Even better, the habit of this plant is branching, so the flowering stems divide and produce several towers of sweetly fragrant lavender-pink on every branch!
Now, let's talk about how to sow and grow this seed. Phlox will not be the easiest plant you ever start from seed, but much of the "difficulty" is really patience, not effort. First, understand that Phlox seeds need a cold period in order to germinate. You can give them this naturally by sowing them outdoors in fall, or you can pop the seed packet into the refrigerator for a month when it arrives.
Once the seeds have chilled, you can either pop them into the Bio Dome or sow them in seed flats. If using the Bio Dome, just make sure that the seed actually drops into the pre-drilled hole in the bio sponge. If using any other method, cover the seed well with seed-starting mix and/or start them in a dark room. The seeds need darkness to germinate, and they will take their time, often not sprouting for 30 days. A temperature in the 40s or 50s is best for germination -- a cool garage or garden shed works well, as long as it doesn't actually approach freezing.
Once you see green sprouts, the hard work (and waiting!) is over. Grow the seedlings on in a cool room, and transplant them when the seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves and all danger of spring frost is past.
Like all garden Phlox, Bee's Bouquet is a heavy feeder, so work in lots of organic matter all spring. This plant also likes consistent moisture, so don't let it dry out completely. You are going to love your Hardy Garden Phlox for many years to come! Enjoy this exciting mix. Zones 4-8.
Phlox Germination Information
How to Sow Phlox: - Sow indoors at 55-65° in a transplantable medium as the roots resent being disturbed
- Expect germination in 10-15 days
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked, in early spring
- Indoor and out, cover the seeds as they need darkness to germinate
- Note: the weakest seedlings often produce the best flower colors
- When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed
How to Grow Phlox:
Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves, being careful not to disturb the roots
Spacing: Space plants 6 inches apart in full sun and a rich, light, sandy soil with excellent drainage
Temperature: Grow on under 55-60°days/50-55° nights
Additional Care: Keep plants moist during the growing season, feed heavily, and deadhead spent flowers. Plants are very heat tolerant
Appearance and Use:
An annual grown for spring flower display in beds and borders, as edging, in containers and rock gardens. Flowers cut well for fresh use. The plants are erect from 8-15 inches high and spreading to 12 inches wide. The large flower heads, to 10 inches tall, are composed of 11/2 inch diameter, fragrant flowers. The showy flowers come in colors of pink, red, lavender, and white. The mid-green leaves are hairy and nearly ovate from 1-3 inches long by 1/2-2 inches wide
About Phlox:
Pronunciation: floks drum-mond’e-i
Lifecycle: Annual
Origination: Polemoniaceae; native to Texas
Common Name: Annual Phlox
Superior Germination Through Superior Science
Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.
Superior Standards - University Inspected
To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.
Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians
Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.
When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.
The Park Seed Gold Standard
And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.
When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
It is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed. We do buy a small amount of traditional hybrid seed from Seminis, a division of Monsanto Co., but that is all we purchase from them.
What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).
Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.
What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Extremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.
What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.
How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.
How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.
What a wonderful bargain -- long-lived, hardy Garden Phlox from seed! A cut-flower lover's dream, this mix takes the best hybrids and combines them all in one super-economical seed packet. No more buying pricey plants or paying for a named variety when all you want is the lovely color! Bee's Bouquet has it all!
Phlox paniculata is a native American perennial containing the nectar that pollinators love, so you can expect a steady parade of bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to visit your plants all season long. Upright and very densely branched, this perennial has the impact of a small shrub. And the blooms are magnificent, with a sweet fragrance many of us associate with our earliest garden memories. Great as cut-flowers, they are also charming in the sunny border. You just can't go wrong with Phlox!
Bee's Bouquet contains the latest hybrids, which is important because the breeding of this perennial has made great strides in recent years. Time was that those of us in humid or rainy climates could enjoy only a short season of Phlox, because powdery mildew was such an enemy of damp foliage. Now, however, mildew-resistant strains keep our plants looking fresh all season.
This mix contains all the classic Phlox colors: pure white, every shade of pink, rose, salmon, magenta, lavender, lilac, and more. The sizes of these plants will vary, but generally speaking you can expect them to reach 2 to 4 feet high and up to 2 feet wide. Bloom time is typically midsummer in all but the warmest climates, and can continue sporadically into fall, with the heaviest flowering occurring early in the season.
The individual flowers on Hardy Garden Phlox are small, but they are very numerous and so closely spaced that they form a dome or canopy of solid color. These plumes reach 6 inches long or wide. Even better, the habit of this plant is branching, so the flowering stems divide and produce several towers of sweetly fragrant lavender-pink on every branch!
Now, let's talk about how to sow and grow this seed. Phlox will not be the easiest plant you ever start from seed, but much of the "difficulty" is really patience, not effort. First, understand that Phlox seeds need a cold period in order to germinate. You can give them this naturally by sowing them outdoors in fall, or you can pop the seed packet into the refrigerator for a month when it arrives.
Once the seeds have chilled, you can either pop them into the Bio Dome or sow them in seed flats. If using the Bio Dome, just make sure that the seed actually drops into the pre-drilled hole in the bio sponge. If using any other method, cover the seed well with seed-starting mix and/or start them in a dark room. The seeds need darkness to germinate, and they will take their time, often not sprouting for 30 days. A temperature in the 40s or 50s is best for germination -- a cool garage or garden shed works well, as long as it doesn't actually approach freezing.
Once you see green sprouts, the hard work (and waiting!) is over. Grow the seedlings on in a cool room, and transplant them when the seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves and all danger of spring frost is past.
Like all garden Phlox, Bee's Bouquet is a heavy feeder, so work in lots of organic matter all spring. This plant also likes consistent moisture, so don't let it dry out completely. You are going to love your Hardy Garden Phlox for many years to come! Enjoy this exciting mix. Zones 4-8.
Phlox Germination Information
How to Sow Phlox: - Sow indoors at 55-65° in a transplantable medium as the roots resent being disturbed
- Expect germination in 10-15 days
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked, in early spring
- Indoor and out, cover the seeds as they need darkness to germinate
- Note: the weakest seedlings often produce the best flower colors
- When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed
How to Grow Phlox:
Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves, being careful not to disturb the roots
Spacing: Space plants 6 inches apart in full sun and a rich, light, sandy soil with excellent drainage
Temperature: Grow on under 55-60°days/50-55° nights
Additional Care: Keep plants moist during the growing season, feed heavily, and deadhead spent flowers. Plants are very heat tolerant
Appearance and Use:
An annual grown for spring flower display in beds and borders, as edging, in containers and rock gardens. Flowers cut well for fresh use. The plants are erect from 8-15 inches high and spreading to 12 inches wide. The large flower heads, to 10 inches tall, are composed of 11/2 inch diameter, fragrant flowers. The showy flowers come in colors of pink, red, lavender, and white. The mid-green leaves are hairy and nearly ovate from 1-3 inches long by 1/2-2 inches wide
About Phlox:
Pronunciation: floks drum-mond’e-i
Lifecycle: Annual
Origination: Polemoniaceae; native to Texas
Common Name: Annual Phlox
Superior Germination Through Superior Science
Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.
Superior Standards - University Inspected
To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.
Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians
Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.
When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.
The Park Seed Gold Standard
And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.
When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
It is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed. We do buy a small amount of traditional hybrid seed from Seminis, a division of Monsanto Co., but that is all we purchase from them.
What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).
Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.
What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Extremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.
What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.
How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.
How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.