Plant of the week

PHLOX PANICULATA ‘BLUE PARADISE’

AN OUTSTANDING July perennial, Phlox paniculata Blue Paradise produces sturdy stems up to 1m tall. Each is topped with clusters of fragrant, dish-shaped flowers. Despite its name, the petals are purple rather than blue, each with marbling that makes the flowers paler towards the centres. A dark rose-purple eye makes a superb contrast. This variety was bred from its wild forebear, P. paniculata, a native of eastern North America. Like other varieties of P. paniculata, Blue Paradise is fully hardy and reliably perennial.