Beauty Scarlet Annual Phlox Seeds – Red Flowers

Add vivid red color to sunny borders and patio pots with Beauty Scarlet annual phlox (Phlox drummondii Nana Compacta). This low-growing flowering annual produces tight clusters of bright rose-red blooms at the ends of its stems. Plant along a path, group in a flower bed, or grow in containers for a compact splash of summer color.

Plant highlights

• Variety: Beauty Scarlet annual phlox, also called Drummond's phlox.
• Life cycle: Annual, not perennial garden phlox.
• Flowers: Scarlet to rose-red clusters.
• Height: Approximately 12 inches, depending on growing conditions.
• Bloom season: Mid-summer, with timing dependent on sowing date and climate.
• Light: Full sun.
• Soil: Well drained, with a suggested pH of 6.1–7.3.
• Uses: Low borders, flower beds, managed meadow-style plantings, containers, and cut flowers.

Choose your seed pack

Available options are 100 seeds, 1,000 seeds, a 1/4 oz pack, or a 1 ounce pack. One ounce contains approximately 15,000 seeds; actual counts vary. Weight-based packs are sold by weight. This listing is for seeds, not live plants.

How to sow

Direct-sow in spring into a prepared, weed-free seedbed. Late-fall sowing is another option where local conditions are suitable. Loosen the topsoil, distribute seeds evenly, and cover lightly to the recommended depth to ensure good soil contact.

• Sowing depth: Approximately 1/16 inch; light is not required for germination.
• Temperature: Approximately 60–70°F.
• Germination: Typically 10–30 days under suitable conditions.
• Moisture: Keep seeds evenly moist until germination without saturating the soil.
• Sowing rate: Approximately 3–4 seeds per planting spot.
• Spacing: Thin seedlings to approximately 9–12 inches apart.

Growing and flower care

Choose a sunny site with well-drained soil. Water young plants while their roots establish, then check soil moisture during dry spells. Leave room between plants for air circulation. Gather flowering stems for small arrangements, or enjoy the bright clusters in the garden.

Plants can self-sow if flowers are allowed to mature and set seed. Leave some seed heads if you would like volunteer seedlings, or remove them before seed dispersal to limit reseeding. A repeat display depends on local conditions and is not guaranteed.

Growing in containers

Beauty Scarlet's low-growing habit suits patio pots, window boxes, and mixed flower planters. Use it as a colorful border around taller plants or group it in a dedicated pot.

• Container: Choose a pot with drainage holes and enough space to avoid crowding.
• Potting mix: Use a well-draining container mix rather than heavy garden soil.
• Sowing: Sow approximately 1/16 inch deep into moist mix. Keep evenly moist during germination and thin seedlings as they develop.
• Placement: Position in full sun.
• Watering: Check regularly during warm or windy weather. Water when the upper layer begins to dry and allow excess water to drain away.
• Feeding: If needed, use a fertilizer labeled for flowering container plants according to its directions, accounting for any fertilizer already in the mix.
• Maintenance: Remove faded flowers for a tidy appearance, leaving a few seed heads only if you want to collect seed or encourage volunteers.

Larger plantings and seasonal planning

The existing sowing guidance recommends approximately 4 ounces per 1,000 square feet. Coverage varies with seedbed preparation and planting method. The listed USDA Zone range of 3–10 refers to seasonal cultivation of this annual; plan sowing around local frost dates rather than treating it as a winter-hardiness guarantee.