Phlox starfire

Here is a phlox that doesn’t conform to the usual muted colours associated with perennial phlox. Its about as close to red as phlox gets. While photographing this plant in the early evening its perfume was sublime.
Starfire is not a rapid increaser but I have had it in my garden for many years and it returns each season.
I have had a couple of complaints about phlox and their appearance on arrival. I think my customers expectation and reality are two very different things.
When you buy phlox you are paying for a root system from which you will have to grow a flowering plant. Phlox look awful in pots, they always will. If I post a plant with stems attached, these stems will not develop any further but the plant will develop new shoots from its base and these will quickly elongate with care and attention.
The best thing for me to do is cut the plants back to just above soil level, even in mid summer this treatment will not cause great stress and as long as the roots are in good order the plant will regenerate very quickly.