Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Blue, Lavender, Pink, Red, White

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green, Light Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Medium, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Parking Strip, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Moss phlox (also moss pink, mountain phlox, or creeping phlox) is a vigorous, spreading, mat-forming, sun-loving phlox that grows to only 6 inches tall but spreads to 24 inches wide. It is noted for it creeping habit, its linear leaves, and its profuse carpet of mid-spring (April to May) flowers with notched flower petals. Many cultivars of this plant are available in commerce featuring flower colors of blue, purple, pink, red and white.

Best grown in sandy-loam to clay-loam, medium to dry moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Best flowering is in full sun, but plants tolerate some dappled sun. Good soil drainage is important. Plants grow well in sandy or gravely soils and tolerate hot, dry exposures better than most other species of phlox. Plants will self-seed in optimum growing conditions. Cut back stems after flowering by 1/2 to maintain form and promote denser growth plus to stimulate a possible light rebloom. Phlox's assets are its spring bloom, not its summer foliage, so plant it where its green mattiness during the summer months won't annoy.