Description

Such a cute and versatile groundcover! Moss phlox or creeping phlox is a vigorous, spreading, mat-forming, sun-loving phlox. Flowers have five, flat, petal-like, rounded lobes that are distinctively notched, and may appear in shades of violet, pink or white. When in bloom, it’s a color explosion!  Dense, low-growing foliage allegedly resembles moss, thus the common name. Awl-shaped leaves retain some green in winter.  (I like the leaves better than the flowers – they’re so cute!) Best flowering is in full sun. Good drainage is essential. Plants grow well in sandy or gravelly soils and tolerate hot, dry exposures better than most other species of phlox. Does not succumb to powdery mildew as other species of phlox do. To produce dense foliage and encourage rebloom, shear plant back and clean up any dead foliage in early summer after blooming. Plants will self-seed in optimum growing conditions. Divisions can be made every few years in summer. Good for erosion control, or the berm of a rain garden. Attracts bees, butterflies.  Height: 3-6 in. Spread: 12-24 in. Family: Polemoniaceae Bloom time: late spring; may rebloom sparsely until frost Sun: full sun Water: medium Deer resistant