Phlox Starry Eyes

What Phlox Starry Eyes is

Phlox Starry Eyes (Phlox drummondii) is an annual flower of the Polemoniaceae family. An old-fashioned favourite flower, as Victorian catalogues once listed over thirty varieties of annual phlox on their pages.

"Star Eyes" has distinct white stripes radiating from the centres of the red, pink, lavender and yellow flowers.

Annual phlox forms dense, fragrant "carpets" of flowers in pastel and bright shades, for borders, window boxes and rock gardens.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 91%
• Seeds per packet: 85–115 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: February – April; seedlings or direct
• Flowering: June – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Phlox Starry Eyes

Phlox Starry Eyes seeds are sown in February – April. The plants flower from June to September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Phlox Starry Eyes

• Sowing method: seedlings or direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm (in the dark)
• Spacing: 20–25 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow indoors at a depth of 1.5 mm in moist, well-drained seed compost. Exclude the light. Germinates at 18-20°C. Germination takes 10-21 days. Transplant seedlings when they are big enough to handle into 8 cm pots. Pinch out the growing tips when the plant is 8 cm tall to encourage a bushy habit. Plant out as the weather warms, 25 cm apart. Can be sown where they are to flower from April to May. Needs well-drained soil, ideally rich; add compost if necessary. Water well from the base of the plant. Will benefit from feeding once in spring and once in summer.

Sow for transplants in March or directly in April–May. Cover the seeds, as they germinate in the dark. Water moderately.

Flowering and uses

Flowers from June into autumn.

Frequently asked questions

When should Phlox Starry Eyes be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February – April. Sowing method: seedlings or direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 85–115 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 91%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.