Phlox Subulatas Creeping Phlox, (Moss Phlox, Mountain Phlox) ground cover

15 comments

I love Phlox Subulatas and thought I would share some of mine with you.
They are miniature semi-evergreen perennial ground cover, herbaceous when young, but semi-woody with age. With a prostrate mat growth habit, when mature mine can reach 6" tall by 4ftx4ft.
The spring flowers are five-petals in vibrant shades of pink, red, lavendar, blue-purple, or white. It forms an evergreen, creeping, slow-growing, ground cover, used as an edging perennial, wall cascader, paving coverer and a rock garden rambler.
Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained (does well in my clay soil and I never water them after the first year) will grow in zones 3-9.
You can cut the stems back one-third to halfway after flowering every year, I just leave them and about every 5-6 years they get the Chelsea chop, 2 of which have had it this year. Having grown them for over 20 years I have come to recognise that they are in fact a ‘subshrub’ and I treat them accordingly. They are trouble free beauties and I love them.

Phlox subulata Emerald Cushion Blue these both had the Chelsea chop this year.

Another Phlox subulata Emerald Cushion Blue

Phlox subulata Purple beauty

Phlox Sublata Candy stripe

Phlox subulata Majorie

Phlox subulata Amazing Grace

Phlox subulata Apple Blossom

4 Jul, 2011
10 likes

Comments

Terratoonie

Looking good ...useful blog :o)

4 Jul, 2011

Drc726

Thanks TT

4 Jul, 2011

Lily2

I love them too Denise, you've got some lovely ones there. It's hard to choose a favourite but I think it's either the Candystripe or a bright pink one I have, not sure of it's name though. It's been growing in a succession of pots for about 5 years and almost forms a ball of complete colour in Spring. It's had the chelsea chop and a severe root prune once.

4 Jul, 2011

Stroller

Have put this on to my favs very interesting full info will definately have to get some for the rockery bed. Love your lady she looks as if the is bathing in the sea.

4 Jul, 2011

Drc726

Thanks Lily and Stroller. My favourite has always been Emerald Cushion Blue but candy stripe is a close second.

4 Jul, 2011

Paulsgarden

it looks amazing !!!

4 Jul, 2011

Drc726

Thanks Paul

4 Jul, 2011

Lincslass

I have two new ones on my rockery Drc, both are doing well but wasn`t sure about aftercare, I hope mine do as well as yours, I didn`t realise there were so many to choose from.
Lovely photo`s, thanks for all the info as well, going in my favs for future reference.....

4 Jul, 2011

Drc726

I have several more I just love them Lincslass. I dont find I need to do anything much till they are quite old as they always seem to grow in a nice shape. I have done another blog showing the results of a brutal pruning I did on my 2 very old ones.

4 Jul, 2011

Lincslass

Thanks Denise, I have a raised bed at the bottom of my garden but its in the shade until late afternoon, I was wondering about trying them on there as its sadly lacking in colour now...

5 Jul, 2011

Drc726

I think its worth trying, although they like full sun 80% of mine are in shade after 3pm and the others have no direct sun till after 2pm. They do like to be in the open next to other plants, but not over hung at all.

5 Jul, 2011