| Description | A low growing ground cover perennial with moss-like foliage and blue flowers in May. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | All Plants, Perennials Hardy |
| Hardiness Zone | 2-9 |
| Sunlight | prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average, well drained, ph neutral to alkaline |
| Flowers | Produces masses of blue flowers in late April to early May lasting for around 2 weeks or more. Phlox growing on slopes or hillsides facing directly to the spring sun will bloom 2-4 weeks |
| Leaves | low growing mat of compact dark emerald green moss-like foliage |
| Dimensions | around 4-6" tall and spreading over 24", plant 12-18" on center. |
| Maintenance | If Creeping Phlox is placed to close to a sidewalk, patio, etc. it will creep into this area. Most people will shear it straight on the edges leaving a rough brown edge. A way to avoid this ugly look is to lift the edges of the plant up and cut the brown underside of the plant leaving a layer of growing foliage on the top to fill in. Than take this foliage and feather it back with a pruning shear or scissors. This works with Creeping Phlox because it tends to grow in layers with the new growth creeping over the older growth. When grass or weed start growing through the foliage, lift the plant and pull the weeds from underneath. Once the Phlox is established the weed problem will be minimal. A light shearing after bloom will incourage compact growth. |
| Propagation | cuttings or division in the spring |
| Native Site | Species plant native to North America. |
| Cultivar Origin | First sent to England in 1745 by John Bartram, a early American botanist. |
| Misc Facts | The name comes from the foliage (moss like) and the blue color of the flowers |
| Author's Notes | I have been growing or observing this Creeping Phlox for over 30 years. Very hardy, always florific and seems to be one of the faster growing cultivars. |
| Notes & Reference | #04-Herbaceous Perennial Plants (Allan Armitage) #06-Perennials for the American Gardens (Ruth Rodgers Clausen and Nicolas H Ekstrom) |
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