| Description | A low growing ground cover perennial with moss-like foliage and reddish flowers in May. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | All Plants, Perennials Hardy |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 |
| Sunlight | full sun but will tolerate some shade |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Flowers | Produces masses of reddish flowers in late April to early May lasting for around 2-4 weeks or more. Phlox growing on slopes or hillsides facing directly to the spring sun will bloom 2 weeks early. |
| Leaves | low growing mat of emerald green moss-like foliage, not as compact as other Creeping Phlox |
| Dimensions | around 4-6" tall and spreading over 24", plant 12-18" on center. |
| Maintenance | If Creeping Phlox is placed near a sidewalk, patio, etc. it will creep into this area. Most people will shear it straight leaving a rough brown edge. A way to avoid this ugly look is to lift the edges of the plant 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 | division, cuttings |
| 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 | Native to America first sent to England in 1745 by John Bartram. The name comes from the moss like foliage. |
| 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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