Phlox paniculata Sweet Summer Fireball ('Sweet Summer Red') (Sweet Summer Series)

RHS Plant Profile

perennial phlox [Sweet Summer Fireball]

Synonyms

Phlox paniculata 'Sweet Summer Red'

Herbaceous Perennial

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An erect, herbaceous perennial with dark-green lance-shaped foliage and terminal clusters of fragrant tubular bright magenta-red flowers over a long period of time in summer. A robust series with strong disease resistance.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Polemoniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Phlox may be evergreen or herbaceous, mat-forming or erect perennials or shrubs, with simple leaves and salver-shaped flowers in terminal clusters
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist soil in full sun or partial shade. See phlox cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn or spring, by basal cuttings in spring, or by a root cutting in early autumn or winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Deadhead to promote continous flowering and cut back to the base in late autumn or early winter

Pests

May be susceptible to stem and bulb eelworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews, grey moulds and leafy gall