Plant of the Week: Creeping Phlox

Common name:
Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox

Botanical name:
Phlox subulata

Creeping phlox is an evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial that is popular for its vibrant blanket of flowers in spring. It is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States. The lightly fragrant flowers are attractive to pollinators.

• Light Requirements: It blooms best in full sun but will tolerate light shade.
• Water Requirements: Creeping phlox needs well draining soil and has low water requirements. Once established, it has a good drought tolerance.
• Characteristics: It is mat forming with soft needle like foliage. It forms a dense carpet that is 2 to 6 inches tall and can spread about 2 feet. Star shaped flowers in spring are white, pink, purple or blue. Plants will tolerate sandy or gravelly soils and hot drier exposures. It is seldom browsed by rabbits or deer.
• Uses: Because of its ground covering nature, it makes a great plant for the front of a border, rock gardens or erosion control on a hillside. It has a high tolerance for air pollution, making it a good choice between the sidewalk and roadway.
• Interesting Facts: Creeping phlox is used as a component on green roofs.
• Varieties:
  • ‘Snowflake’ becomes a mound of snowy white flowers for several weeks with a height of 2 to 4 inches.
  • ‘Emerald Blue’ forms a pretty carpet of lavender blue flowers and reaches 4 to 6 inches tall.
  • ‘Purple Beauty’ is similar to ‘Emerald Blue’ but has a darker purple hue.

The genus name, Phlox, is from the Greek word phlox and means “flame.”

Creeping phlox is excellent at preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides because their spreading roots hold soil in their place.

Creeping phlox is native to the central and eastern portions of Canada and the United States. It is native mainly to the Appalachian Mountains.

Phlox is found in dry rocky, or sandy areas, savannas, rocky ledges, slopes, clearings, and open woodlands.

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