My Corner Online

Flower Index Index by Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6

Phlox Subulata | Moss Phlox

First bloom dates:

2017 April 3

2018 April 6

2019 April 4

2020 March 22

2024 March 7

Phlox Subulata | Moss Phlox

The family is Polemoniaceae (Jacob's Ladder or Phlox Family) Pronounced pol-uh-MOH-nee-ay-see-eye

This is how to tell the difference between Creeping Phlox and Moss Phlox.

Phlox stolonifera | Creeping Phlox

-leaves are oval shaped with a leathery feel

-clustered flowers are loosely gathered, less concentrated

-smooth edge flowers

Phlox subulata | Moss Phlox

-sometimes mistakenly called creeping phlox

-prickly needle-like leaves

-dense flowers with no spaces in between

-dark markings toward the center and notched petals

This is the Phlox Stolonifera from Wikipedia which shows the oval leaves and the smooth petal edges so you can compare it to my Moss Phlox.

The flower has five petals. This is my Moss Phlox with notched edges and dark centers.

I believe my variety of Moss Phlox is "Emerald Blue" which is the light purple in my yard.

Moss Phlox and Creeping Phlox are a poplar garden bed or rock bed flowering plant. They spread in such a way that they make a ground cover.

They are a tight plant and weeds have a hard time germinating within it, but if they do, the weeds are difficult to remove without harming the partially Phlox. Get the weeds early!

They can be propagated by dividing plants in the early Spring before they bloom.

I have had mine bloom early in the Spring, continuing to bloom for many weeks, and even reblooming in the Summer. After it blooms, I give it a haircut with a pair of scissors, which is the easy way to deadhead the plant so it might rebloom. Whether it blooms again or not, it remains as a beautiful lush green foliage to enhance the garden beds throughout the Summer.

2024