Perennial of the Month-- August 2003 
Perennial of the Month-- August 2003
(flox) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)
Common name: Becky Towe Tall Garden Phlox
Family:Polemoniaceae, Phlox
Height x width: 36-48" x 12-18"
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: opposite, lanceolate 3-4" long; golden variegated, often turning lighter through season and older leaves
Flowers: salmon pink with darker eye; mid to late summer; slight sweet scent
Hardiness: zones 3 or 4 to 8
Soil: most, moist preferred
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: on many cultivars powdery mildew and mites are major problems, but this one seems fairly resistant to both; chewing from small mammals as rabbits and woodchucks
Landscape habit, uses: borders, cutting; combines nicely with other golden variegated plants, or with dark leaved plants such as some Cimicifuga or Cotinus, as as an accent with green-foliage plants such as lower junipers
Other interest: discovered in 1990 by Mrs June Towe in her Shropshire, UK garden; named after her black retreiver dog with some royalty proceeds going to this breed; an excellent plant for pest and disease resistance, good flower color, and variegation
Other culture: remove spent flower heads from paniculata; usually need spraying for mites and mildew
Propagation: fall root cuttings of paniculata and some species, this cultivar patented so protected in U.S. commercial production
Sources: Planthaven
licensed growers, check local specialty perennial growers, or those online
such as through search engines