Meet the Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox | Phlox subulata
How do you know it’s me?:
I have a dense, carpet-like, spreading growth habit
My tiny leaves are opposite and needle like, up to 1" in length.
My green stems turn tan and woody with age.
My flowers emerge as tiny tubes that spiral open into simple flowers with 4-5 petals.
My flowers petals are sometimes notched at the ends.
I have a light floral fragrance.
How big do I grow?: 6" height and 2’ - 3’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun to part shade (part shade in areas with hot humid summers).
Where I prefer to put my roots: I prefer moist, well-drained, fertile soils, but can also grow in sandy or rocky soil with my outstanding drought tolerance.
Hardiness: Zone 3-9
Original home: I am native to the eastern US and Canada, specifically from the Appalachian Mountains.
Colors: My prolific tiny flowers come in shades of pink, purple, and white.
When I bloom: Spring, and sometimes sparsely through the summer until frost.
Wildlife friends: My flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Rabbits may browse my foliage.
Flora Fun Facts: "Phlox" is the Greek word for "flame," which refers to the burst of bright color I provide in early spring (some varieties brighter than others).
More Info: Creeping Phlox is one of the indicators that spring has arrived. Before the trees soften with tender green leaves, Phlox brightens garden edges in puddles of pinks, whites, and lavender. They are especially eye-catching when planted to cascade down brick and stone walls.
A member of the Polemoniaceae (Phlox) family
Also called moss phlox for the dense, cushiony mats it produces.
Responds well to trimming after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense growth.
Perfect for rock gardens, ground covers, sunny areas of woodland gardens, or at the edge of a wall (where it can drape over).
