Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata (FLOCKS sub-yoo-LAH-tah)

Family: Polemoniaceae Native Groundcover (<1 ft)

Moss phlox is a spring-blooming herbaceous perennial that has a dense, spreading, mat-forming habit. It is a member of the phlox family (Polemoniaceae). It is native to the central and eastern portions of Canada and the United States. Moss phlox is found in dry, rocky or sandy areas, savannas, ledges, slopes, clearings, and open woodlands. In North Carolina, it occurs naturally in the Appalachian Mountains. The specific epithet, subulata , is Latin and translates as "awl-shaped," which references the leaves. Moss phlox prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil and full sun. It flowers best in full sun, but in hot, humid summers, the plant appreciates some dappled sun. They like sandy and gravelly soil and can tolerate hot and dry conditions better than other species of phlox. It is good practice to cut back the stems by one-half when flowering is completed to help maintain their shape and encourage dense growth. It is tolerant of deer, erosion, drought, and air pollution. The stems of moss phlox are green when young, becoming tan and woody with age. It grows up to 6 inches tall and up to 2 to 3 feet wide. Older plantings thin out as new growth spreads away from the center of the plant. The leaves are green, linear to awl-shaped, and needle-like. The blooms appear in loose clusters of tubular 3/4 inch flowers in shades of pink, lavender, reddish-purple, and occasionally white. It has many cultivars with vibrant pink, red, lavender, blue-purple, or white flowers that cover the plant from late April to early May. 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 may also be used to drape slightly over a low rock wall. Quick ID Hints: creeping, dense, mat-like herbaceous perennial, up to 6 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide opposite, linear to awl-shaped, needle-like green foliage up to 1-inch long loose clusters of tubular flowers, 3/4-inch wide, with five flat, notched petals of lavender, pink, white, or red Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Moss phlox 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 and humid conditions. Rabbits may feed on the foliage, but it is less palatable to deer. Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora and southern blight. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology,” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Phlox .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 66 attributes.