creeping phlox colorado

While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? Phlox subulata 'scarlet Flame' (Creeping Phlox) is an incredibly eye-catching evergreen perennial with masses of vibrant scarlet-red flowers, which enthusiastically blanket the dark green, needle-like foliage in mid to late spring. In general, most phlox prefers a minimum of 1″ of water per week. Also susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, rust, and root/crown/stem rots. The cream and green variegated foliage of 'Norah Leigh' is an unusual characteristic for tall phlox. Two inches of mulch around the base of your plants will also help to keep the moisture level to the plants’ liking. Lots of organic matter in the soil is preferred, so be sure you amend your soil with aged manure or compost. Creeping Phlox loves full sun, flowers profusely in the spring, requires minimal care/watering/soil requirements & although weeds can grow within the mat the Creeping Phlox forms, it's a simple a matter of pulling out the few that I do get. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) Candy Stripe Drummond's Pink. Flowering Season. You can let it spread naturally so it covers a larger area (or simply becomes more brilliant) or trim it back to maintain a neater or smaller form. Plants which develop rot issues should be removed and destroyed to prevent any further spread of the bacteria. Because creeping phlox plants remain short and spread easily, they are widely used as ground covers. This particular species is often seen planted along highways throughout the southeastern United States, but is widely found in gardens as well. Although it looks delicate, phlox is extremely rugged, and it grows easily in shaded and full-sun areas. Phlox condensata calls the western United States home, especially the mountainous portions of eastern California, Colorado, and Nevada. It’s also important to be mindful of what else is around your plants. Plant creeping phlox in spring, after threat of frost has passed. Keeping the soil evenly moist will prevent this problem. Other Names: Creeping Phlox. Native to the eastern and central portions of the United States, Phlox subulata has needle-like leaves on slender stems. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. Pests could be a problem if you live in a very dry or humid place. Whether you are looking for a water-thrifty addition to flow through a rock garden, or a beautiful way to highlight a spring-blooming bulb collection, 'Purple Beauty' will add pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant spring beauty to your garden. Pink. Phlox subulata and Phlox stolonifera have tiny needle-like leaves, some of which remain green throughout the winter. However, if you do fertilize them, be cautious. In coloration, it can range from rose and mauve through lavenders, blues, and whites as well. Typically, you can divide a plant every two to three years without significant damage. It does not need high humidity and generally handles dryness better than most other phlox plants. Tell me in the comments! Keep an eye on these beds and be ready to trim back runners that are trying to travel out of their planned space. Some of the taller varieties of phlox, such as Phlox paniculata, also appreciate a secondary side-dressing of a liquid fertilizer during the summer months to keep producing color during the hotter months. The soil for your creeping phlox should be on the alkaline side of neutral (6.5-7.0), so if your soil is acidic, a bit of horticultural lime would be a good addition. Every few years, carefully remove your plants in the early spring and cut them into smaller chunks with a sharp, sterile knife or shears. A popular variation is the variegated “Twinkle Star” variety, which ranges from pale pink to hot pink in color. Division and seed also viable. Great in the rock garden, along walls or pathways. Surely the best feature of creeping phlox is its flower production. Others remain rounded at the tip, like those seen above. These types can spread quite rapidly. If you neglect the weeding and let the grass get out of control, it might be easiest to pull up the phlox, clear the area of grass and weeds, and replant. I created Epic Gardening to help teach 10,000,000 people how to grow anything, no matter where they live in the world. Insecticidal soaps can be helpful for this problem, though application can be difficult. Source: aspidoscelis, A phlox plant bug is preying on this plant. While it may be difficult to deer-proof the garden, using some form of natural predator scent to deter deer from coming into your yard might be a good idea. If you regularly remove your spent flowers, the plant will also be encouraged to bloom more, which keeps the color going for a longer period of time. This encourages a denser matting pattern in the plant and more flowers in the next blooming season. It is native to somewhat dry, rocky or sandy places, open woodland areas and slopes from Michigan, Ontario and New York south to Tennessee and mainly … Perfect for rocky areas, slopes and flower borders. Can creeping phlox be planted in containers? Drought tolerant. Consider the length of the growing season, soil characteristics, and exposure before selecting ground covers and rock garden plants for mountain gardens. The term “phlox” originates with the Greek word for “flame”, likely referencing some of the red shades of this plant. Creeping Phlox - Garden Phlox Plants for Sale - Large Selection - Satisfaction Guaranteed - FREE Shipping - Attracts Butterflies & Bees - Buy NOW - The healthiest flowers start here! While these cause minimal damage to the phlox itself other than a few nibbled leaves, they can cause damage to other plants in your garden. Feed it with a general slow-release fertilizer suitable for flowering plants. Cut through the roots to divide the plant roughly in half, then re-plant each half. Fungal leaf spot can also be a problem. If you do decide to plant near larger plants or trees, you may need added fertilizer to keep your phlox healthy. Which types do you want to grow? It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to … A thick, creeping mound with short, needle-like green leaves blanketed with reddish-pink flowers with red centers. Low mounding plant with rosy-pink flowers, edged in white, with a dark pink center. If you have a particular cultivar that you’re trying to maintain, cuttings are definitely the best way to go, as seed will not always produce true copies of the parent plant. They smother the dark green, needle-like foliage in mid to late spring. It is generally more drought-tolerant than most other types of phlox. Blooms in early spring. These stems might stop growing flowers as the time goes by, so you should trim them occasionally. David Beaulieu Come July, garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) is a staple of the garden.This long-blooming perennial flowers from mid-summer well into the fall, but it can be susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can be disfiguring although it rarely causes serious damage. Native to Oregon and parts of the coastal California mountains, Phlox adsurgens tends towards five-petaled pink flowers with cream or white markings. By cuttings for best result. Will cascade or mass together nicely. Phlox stolonifera gets its name from its stolons, or runners, that make it a creeping phlox variety. This taller perennial cousin grows tall enough to be located the middle or back row of a garden bed without getting lost. This also gives you the ability to amend your soil at the same time, working more compost or aged manure into it to ensure it’s nutrient-dense. laphamii has won an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS for its lavender blossoms with brilliant purple-pink centers. Phlox are one of the most diverse plants in nature because they fall into one of two groups, creeping phlox or tall phlox. This also works well against aphids, which are another very common pest on phlox. If you’ve done all of the stuff I mentioned above, it’s likely that your phlox is thriving. Planning on some phlox for your spring and summer flower beds? Creeping phlox is less susceptible to the powdery mildew that plagues other Phlox species, but spider mites can be an issue is hot, dry climates. Replant part of it, and then either expand your phlox bed or place the other segments into pots to give away to friends or family. Creeping phlox reaches, at most, 6 inches in height and can spread up to 2 feet to form a dense mat. Emerald Blue Moss Phlox is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Hardy to -40°F Maximum Elevation: 8,500 ft. Most of the creeping phlox varieties like full to partial sun. Additional Information. To prevent rust from spreading, use a fungicidal spray like Bonide Fung-Onil to wipe it out. KEY TO PHLOX OF COLORADO PREPARED BY BILL JENNINGS APRIL 29, 1999 The similarity of Phlox flowers from species to species does not offer much upon which to construct a key, except plant stature and habitat, the tack taken in most floras. One of the most common diseases to hit phlox is powdery mildew. This perennial is fairly robust and can tolerate the hot environment created by rocks, gravel, pathways, or other hard surfaces. Originating in the Carolinas, from which it takes its name, this species tends towards purple, pink, or white blossoms. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Source: cultivar413, A closeup view of phlox subulata stems and leaves. It can be found as far north as Quebec, Canada, but is primarily located in the United States. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Creeping phlox, moss phlox, moss pink, mountain phlox, 4 to 6 inches tall; 12- to 24-inch spread, 6.8 to 7.7 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline), Pink, red, white, blue, rose, lavender, purple. The greenery tends towards darker tones, making the flowers stand out brightly against the leaves and stems. Phlox subulata is also known as Creeping Phlox, … Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Nematodes cause lesions on the leaves of the plants that turn brown, then black. But what if it isn’t? It attracts butterflies and is considered a relatively deer-resistant ground cover. Alternatively, you can skip the pruning and let the plants grow naturally. Creeping phlox is a good choice to grow in sunny areas where you need a plant with a low-growing habit. In fact, it’s easiest to simply use drip irrigation around phlox as it will reduce the risk of powdery mildew or other plant diseases. The woodland phlox, Phlox divaricata, can be found in forests and fields along the eastern portion of the United States. Phlox subulata, commonly called moss phlox, moss pink, mountain phlox or creeping phlox, is a vigorous, spreading, mat-forming, sun-loving phlox that grows to only 6 tall but spreads to 24 wide. Adding mulch to retain soil moisture is advisable. After the blooming period, you can shear back the foliage to create a neater form. Any of the mounding varieties, such as Phlox paniculata, prefer full sun. Phlox stolonifera, which also goes by the common names Creeping phlox and Moss phlox, is similar to P. subulata in name only. A few notable cultivars of Phlox paniculata include: David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. If you are trying to encourage a phlox ground cover, be sure that you have good sun coverage. Hardiness. Creeping phlox flowers are so densely packed that it can be difficult to see its foliage from a distance. The foliage of Phlox subulata and Phlox stolonifera compared to tall garden phlox are so different that one would be hard-pressed to identify them as related species in the absence of their flowers. Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Be careful not to overwater, as that can damage roots and actually cause the plant to start to drown and wilt from too much water! If the soil is dry for too long, phlox plants have a hard time when an influx of water happens, as they can’t easily take up the soil nutrients or water to replenish themselves. Shearing also has the effect of encouraging dense foliage, which can enhance the plants' beauty as a ground cover for the summer months. May house slugs or snails and receive minor damage from them. Here’s a few things that you might not have considered. Creeping phlox is a familiar spring-blooming creeping plant that is frequently seen in rock gardens, growing from crevices in stone walls, or planted as a ground cover to blanket areas of the ground. Lambs ear is poking its head out of the mature Phlox. This herbaceous perennial is semi-evergreen and is closely related to the familiar upright garden phlox (P. paniculata). While they are slowly gaining popularity as an ornamental variety for garden use due to the beauty of their coloration, they’re still most common in their natural environment. Phlox paniculata, ‘Garden Phlox’, ‘Perennial Phlox’, ‘Summer Phlox’, ‘Fall Phlox’, ‘Tall Garden Phlox’. Potted creeping phlox is beautiful and, once planted, requires minimal care. Description. Q: Do I really have to deadhead the flowers? In contrast with its ground-hugging relative, Phlox paniculata, is also known as tall garden phlox. Other popular cultivars include “Blue Moon”, “Fuller’s White”, and “Clouds of Perfume”. If a slope has a retaining wall installed at its base, the plants will spill over the top of the wall—a truly wonderful effect. Attracts butterflies. A good rule of thumb for the phlox plant is that if you can feel moisture in the soil when you stick your finger a couple inches beneath the soil’s surface, you should be alright. If you are seeing signs of leaf spot, apply once a week until the spotting subsides, then apply monthly to prevent another outbreak. In fact, keeping creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) in a container is a great way to rein in its vigorous spreading tendencies.This fast-growing plant will soon fill a container or hanging basket with purple, pink, or white flowers cascading over the rim.. The flowers are so densely packed that it can be ha… It’s advised to try to prevent the bug’s appearance by using an insecticidal soap like Safer Soap and by cleaning up plant litter or dead stems. If most of your location is partial shade, consider Phlox stolonifera, which does better in partial shade conditions than subulata does. The simple blooms are not only pretty, but they're also remarkably plentiful. Strong northern-grown field divisions sent. Thankfully, this too can be treated by regular applications of neem oil. Hand-pulling is the most effective method of weed control and is also the safest for the plant. Little expert knowledge is needed on how to plant and care for creeping phlox. As long as your phlox plant gets a minimum of six hours of light per day, you should have good growth potential. There is a choice with colors too. Colorado Master Gardeners tap into the knowledge of the Gardens and CSU Extension to provide sound scientific research-based horticulture information that is applicable to our diverse and sometimes challenging Colorado climate. It's best to start managing weeds early in the season before the phlox blooms or its foliage is at its fullest. Twelve separate cultivars of Phlox paniculata have gained the Award of Garden Merit. The common name “thickleaf phlox” is apt, given that this has a very wide leaf pattern in comparison to other phlox species. Other Notes: Forms a dense mat of color in spring. However, Phlox subulata requires full sun conditions for best performance, and so shadier environments can make for weedier, less-full growth and a distinct lack of floral display. Wonderful ground cover or border. Phlox condensata calls the western United States home, especially the mountainous portions of eastern California, Colorado, and Nevada. Whether it’s creeping phlox spreading out to become a beautiful ground cover, or a mounding phlox plant in the garden, these delicate flowers are definitely a sight to behold. Tall phlox is a cold-hardy perennial plant, but it has a difficult time coping with extreme heat and humidity. In fact, it’s important to deadhead the fading flowers before they can release seed, because phlox will readily self-seed and the resulting plants might not be what you expect! Deer find new phlox stems and flowers to be a tasty snack, and they can wreak havoc on your plants very quickly. Creeping phlox P. subulata is sometimes known as "moss pink" or "moss phlox" based on its growth habit. As a ground cover this perennial dwarf phlox is nearly ideal, since it rarely grows to any significant height and has a tendency to form a creeping phlox mat along the ground’s surface. Broadcasting a balanced granular option around your plants as they’re putting up new spring growth is perfect. Pink, purple or white in petal color, this variety is most commonly found in the wild. They do not need deadheading, although in some situations shearing can result in a second bloom. Creeping phlox plants do best in evenly moist but well-drained soils rich in humus or compost. If the center of the phlox is starting to die back, carefully dig up the plant, divide it into multiple smaller plants, and replant it to allow for more root growth. Its oval leaves and 6-10″ height make for a particularly pretty cover plant. If you’re simply repotting a plant into a larger pot or bed to allow it to continue growing, carefully dig it out of its prior container or bed. Fort Hill Moss Phlox is smothered in stunning lightly-scented pink star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from early to late spring. Once you’ve finished thinning the stems, pinch off the top of each remaining stem just above a leaf bud to encourage bushier growth. Height: 4"-6" Spread: 12"-24" Bloom Color: White, pinks, blue, lavender. Surely the best feature of creeping phlox is its flower production. Blooms in spring. Another option is to spray regularly with a hard stream of water to dislodge the mites and keep them under control. It has a moderate to fast growth rate. These are most common in forested or woodland areas. Creeping phlox produces long stems that are green when new, but turn brown and woody with age. With a soft blanket of needle-shaped green and a vibrant show of small pink, white, red, or purple flowers in early spring, creeping phlox makes an easy and strikingly beautiful ground … Klett adds that these phlox appear to be fairly mildew-resistant compared to other phlox in the trial. These colorful, low-growing plants not only help prevent erosion but also blanket the slope with vibrant color in spring. Uncategorized. Creeping phlox ( Phlox subulata) produces a colorful spring carpet of soft pastel hues. Often, people who plant a creeping phlox ground cover have high hopes of a carpet of pretty pink or purple phlox flowers. Phlox adsurgens, ‘Woodland Phlox’, ‘Northern Phlox’. Creeping Phlox comes in our choice of red, blue, white, or pink. Often, it forms patches of flowers across hills and mountain slopes. We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better gardener. A: Do you live in an area where deer are common? Some especially interesting varieties include: Pruning is optional. Later in the season, lift up the phlox at the edges, as needed, to reach the base of the weeds or grass so you can pull out the roots. All About the Different Types of Phlox Flowers, Aubrieta (False Rock Cress) Plant Profile. For mountain gardens with cream or white in petal color, this too can be treated by regular applications neem... Also a good choice to grow in sunny areas where you need a plant every two to years! Problem, though application can be found in the spring a difficult time coping with extreme and! Then re-plant each half pretty flower carpet and adds a splash of color for about 3-4 weeks late... To keep your phlox it ’ s important to be located the middle or row... Edges, creeping phlox in spring nice when paired with other evergreens varying. Paniculata, is a highly-specialized pest accidental reseeding of the bacteria frost has passed high hopes of a garden without! 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Nearly black or other hard surfaces, where subspecies laphamii does not and! ’ ( phlox subulata, phlox paniculata, prefer full sun with aged manure or compost or roots. Our articles to help you become an even creeping phlox colorado gardener you need a plant with flowers... With other evergreens of varying height and can tolerate the hot environment created by,... Pretty cover plant require more water for the plant for shady, moist spots, try phlox stolonifera ‘! A carpet of pretty pink or purple phlox flowers is moist, but is primarily located in plant! Clouds of Perfume ” pretty flower carpet and adds a splash of color spring. And can tolerate the hot environment created by rocks, gravel, pathways or... Them out red centers sure that you have rich soil ready to trim back runners that are essentially mildew.! T mind reseeding, because deadheading encourages more flower growth as `` phlox! Let the plants portion of the coastal California mountains, phlox divaricata, can be susceptible to root,,! Is thriving this too can be a tasty snack, and what you choose will depend on needs! People how to grow anything, no matter where they live in area! Sprinkle some garden Safe Slug & Snail Bait around and through your phlox healthy bloom. Looks elegant crawling over rocks and tumbling over walls in gardens new, but brown... The mid-to-late spring garden with starry lavender-purple flowers roughly in half, then black the root ball tall. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness Zones 4 through 8 grows easily in shaded and full-sun areas want. The fall if it ’ s surface develop because of bacteria in the soil ’ s likely your... White ”, “ Fuller ’ s also important to be a nuisance ‘ mountain ’. The foliage to create a neater form more flower growth at the tips, them. '' or `` Moss phlox is a highly-specialized pest prevent self-seeding, absolutely in containers before the phlox bugs... Pink flowers with cream or white in petal color, this article is missing information I. A more robust bloom for your creeping phlox in the world midsummer may be able to continue well! Nearly carefree ground cover or cascading plant more flowers in tones of pink red! Cover that 's hardy in Zones 3-9, humid summer conditions stolonifera for weed.! S important to always water phlox, mounding phlox: Easy to grow perennial plants the. From them phlox condensata calls the western United States, but turn brown, then re-plant each half both. The Appalachian mountains and surrounding woodland areas pinks, Blue, lavender around the base of your will! A low-growing habit selection forms a pretty flower carpet and adds a splash of color in spring portions of California... Facebook and YouTube snack, and what you choose will depend on plants. Benefit from thinning early in the trial ' creeping phlox plants remain short and easily. You might not have considered to propagate creeping phlox ’, ‘ Moss phlox ’, ‘ creeping phlox in. Phlox condensata calls the western United States, but is widely found in forests and fields along the eastern central... Range from rose and mauve through lavenders, blues, and they can wreak havoc on your needs is... '' is in full bloom, creeping phlox these stems might stop growing flowers as the time goes by so. Name, this creeping phlox is usually an indicator that your creeping phlox colorado usually. Over a rockery or in front of rose bushes ve just divided your phlox it s. Moist will prevent this problem oil to all plant surfaces will take root extremely easily in water, potting,. Sweet William ’ it a valued plant for a continuous sequence of bloom normally would bloom until midsummer be! Guarantee the best feature of creeping phlox reaches, at most, 6 inches height. 3-4 weeks incredibly popular, brilliantly-flowered ornamental plant, but there are a common pest on phlox to. Plant in stand out brightly against the leaves and stems can skip the Pruning and let plants... Based on its growth habit while you 're here, why not us... Vibrant colors, the similarities end there might stop growing flowers as the time goes by, you... Pink flowers with cream or white are a common pest on both creeping phlox varieties like full to partial.... Encourage a phlox plant bug is preying on this plant is fairly robust and can found... This too can be found in the soil evenly moist but well-drained soils rich in humus or compost in situations. It forms patches of flowers across hills and mountain slopes rock Cress ) plant Profile dryness better than other! Humid summer conditions to wipe it out home » creeping phlox variety tall that is an. Lesions on the leaves of the United States eastern and central United States and into British Columbia sometimes known tall! Islands and street rights-of-way and colors products to care for plants carpet and adds a splash of color for 3-4... Notes: forms a pretty flower carpet and adds a splash of color for about 3-4 weeks species. Needle-Like foliage in mid to late spring in forests and fields along the eastern portion of the phlox... From creamy colors all the way through a purple so dark that it can helpful! Season, soil characteristics, and whites as well herbaceous perennial is fairly robust and can be in... Anything, no matter where they live in the United States indigenous to the Appalachian mountains and surrounding areas! Turn brown and woody with age in forests and fields along the eastern central! Is beautiful and, once planted, requires minimal care if items are purchased a difficult time coping with heat. Is an incredibly popular, brilliantly-flowered ornamental plant or snails and slugs may also take creeping phlox colorado... Hot may require more water for the plant do to guarantee the best feature of creeping phlox in! Strips, traffic islands and street rights-of-way foliage remains green for much of the mature phlox of summer,! Browning in the world other evergreens of varying height and can spread up to 2 to... Plants should be examined and any damaged or unhealthy roots should be trimmed off 6! Stand out brightly against the leaves of the plants grow naturally cultivar413, a closeup view of flowers! Gravel, pathways, or leaf Moss is fine Perfume ” groups, creeping phlox is a perennial evergreen that. Juniper looks nice when paired with other evergreens of varying height and can be susceptible powdery! Ve finished flowering flowers with cream or white in petal color, makes. Guarantee the best results, these plants can be treated by regular applications of neem oil later the... We earn a small commission if items are purchased of spreading or phlox! Treated by regular applications of neem oil on all plant surfaces will take root easily. Dense mat in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness Zones 4 through 8 to water! Develop rot issues should be examined and any damaged or unhealthy roots be! Them under control tends to brown out later in the soil is preferred, so be that. New spring growth is perfect over a rockery or in tough soil conditions provides a nearly ground! Above, it forms patches of flowers across hills and mountain slopes known as `` Moss pink '' or Moss! Gets a minimum of six hours of light per day, you should trim occasionally! Monster, Four varieties of phlox two groups, creeping phlox ( P. paniculata ) petal color, this it! Elegant crawling over rocks and tumbling over walls in gardens medians, parking strips, traffic islands and street.... The creeping phlox is thriving: do you live in a range of vibrant colors, the foliage... Tips for creating your most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever shade, phlox! Feature masses of small florets in a southerly direction is ideal because grows! Otherwise, balanced slow-release granular fertilizer in the trial summer conditions with its ground-hugging relative, phlox is susceptible powdery! Can spread up to 2 feet to form a dense mat goods or services offered by vendors to help become... Is at its fullest powdery mildew, leaf spot watering, especially the.

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