Phlox is a plant of many uses, both in the garden and home. As this plant comes in both tall and dwarf varieties, it is able to adapt itself to most garden areas. Some people may remember this plant as "Texas Pride."

The blooms of this sun-loving garden plant range from white, shades of pink to red and lavender, some of which have dark or white eyes and come in clusters of individual blooms and several of such clusters per plant. This plant will become more bushy if a week or two after transplanting into a garden area the central growth is pinched.

As phlox can adapt itself to most garden soils, and because of its ability, even in the heat of summer to withstand periods of drought, phlox can be planted in areas which can be given little care, such as parking strips or out-of-the-way corners of the yard. However, to assure the most abundance of blooms and the most brilliant colors, a continuous watering program, coupled with spraying for insects, and fertilization must be undertaken.

As phlox, like many other plants, has a tendency to die once it has produced seeds, the blooming period can be greatly extended by picking the flowers, which can be used as beautiful cut flowers in the home, or after the flowers have bloomed, removing the branches prior to the forming of the seeds.

The taller variety of phlox will grow to a height of approximately 18 inches and can be used in many areas in the garden either as a foreground plant for the taller varieties or a background plant behind low growing border plants. In this usage, it is usually best 10 space them approximately 6 to 7 inches apart. The dwarf varieties usually grow between 6 and 8 inches in height and should be planted approximately 4 to 6 inches apart.

For a solid bed of dazzling color either the dwarf or the tail varieties will produce striking results in a bed. Only the heads of the plants can be seen and because the blooms of this plant come in trusses, or series of trusses per plant, striking garden effects can be achieved by this carpet-cf-color process.