Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Creeping Phlox:
- Phonetic Spelling
- FLOCKS sub-yoo-LAH-tah
- Description
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Phlox subulata is vigorous and noted for its creeping habit and the profuse carpet of flowers that bloom early to mid-spring and then sparsely until frost. It is native to dry, rocky or sandy areas, savannas, rocky ledges, slopes, clearings, and open woodlands. The foliage mats are cushion-like, resembling moss, hence the common name of moss phlox.
The stems of Phlox subulata are green when young, becoming tan and woody with age. Older plantings thin out as new growth spreads away from the center of the plant. It has many cultivars with vibrant pink, red, lavender, blue-purple, or white flowers that cover the plant from late April to early May. Shearing the plants back after flowering may encourage a second, denser growth and smaller flowering. Moss phlox may grow to a height of 6 inches and prefers sunny sites with well-drained, slightly alkaline soils.
Garden uses include rock gardens, edgings, foundation plantings, or ground covers in sunny areas of woodland gardens, slopes, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. It will also drape slightly over a low rock wall.
Phlox subulata is relatively pest and disease-free and has moderate drought tolerance. It is resistant to powdery mildew (unlike most other species of phlox). Spider mites can be a problem in hot, dry conditions, and nematodes can cause damage to the leaves in wet/humid conditions. Rabbits may feed on the foliage but it is less palatable to deer.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Rock & Water Garden Entryway Garden, Cabarrus County Extension Office Entrance Statement, Fescue Grass
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
- 'Red Wing'
- 'Vivian White Blanket'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Red Wing', 'Vivian White Blanket'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
- 'Red Wing'
- 'Vivian White Blanket'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Red Wing', 'Vivian White Blanket'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phlox
- Species:
- subulata
- Family:
- Polemoniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central United States
- Distribution:
- Michigan, Ontario and New York south to Tennessee and mainly in the Appalachians to North Carolina.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Rabbits eat the foliage.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous oval seed capsules
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Pink moss has loose, terminal, flattened clusters (cymes) of fragrant, tubular flowers (to 3/4” wide) that bloom in April-May. The flowers are red-purple to bluish-purple, pink, or infrequently white. Each flower has five, flat, petal-like, rounded, notched lobes. The calyx is 5-lobed, green, and lobes are awl-shaped, tapering to a point The corolla is slender, tubular with the 5 lobes spreading at right angles to the tube, and less than an inch in size.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Subulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The foliage of the Pink moss is prostrate with creeping stems. Leaves are opposite to clustered and densely arranged and may have a fuzzy margin. The leaves are semi-evergreen, small, simple, linear to subulate, acute, entire, semi-rigid, sharply pointed light green to gray-green, and awl-shaped. They grow up to an inch in length and are needle-like, densely arranged with a prickly effect when handled.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Long branches with short floral stems. Older growth is knotty, semi-woody, and loses most of its foliage.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Fire
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt
