One of the reason we are so passionate about plant trialing is that we can avoid offering plants like this phlox. This is Purple Eye Flame phlox taken in our gardens this week, part of the Bar Series from the Netherlands. While many of the phlox from this “disease resistant” series are excellent, others leave a bit to be desired when it comes to things like mildew resistance. Often these plants perform well in the breeders’ climate, but not so well in other parts of the world. While it will never be possible to adequate trial all plants in each ecological region, more trials are always better than less.