what to plant with creeping phlox

Good companion plants include perennial euphorbia (Euphorbia characias), which grows 4 feet tall. Its chartreuse flowers contrast well with all colors of phlox. Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus), whose taller flowers will branch over the phlox, are another good companion plant.

What can you grow with phlox?

Phlox is a great companion, pairing nicely with many other flowering perennials. Here it is with Bee Balm. Garden phlox is a perfect addition to any perennial garden - even a native garden, as most phlox have not been bred too far away from their native roots.

Will creeping phlox take over other plants?

Creeping Phlox makes perfect partners with other plants and helps create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden.

How quickly does creeping phlox spread?

Like other ground covers,creeping phlox takes a few years to reach maturity -- about two years on average, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. This means it grows an average of about an inch per month.

When should you plant creeping phlox?

Plant creeping phlox in spring. Purchase creeping phlox starter plants at a garden center or nursery. Select healthy plants that display bushy, bright green foliage. Prepare a planting spot in your garden where the plant will be exposed to full sun or partial shade.

Does creeping phlox bloom all summer?

Creeping phlox blooms for approximately six weeks late in the spring and into the early part of the summer in all zones where it grows. It grows close to the ground, and very gradually crawls and spreads.

Does creeping phlox die in winter?

Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) can survive winter lows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9. Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) and sand phlox (Phlox bifida), also creeping phlox species, can survive even colder winters. ... Late spring frost and winter weather can do some damage, though.

Where is the best place to plant creeping phlox?

The plant has an easy going nature and thrives in a variety of conditions. Almost any soil is suitable for growing creeping phlox as long as it is in full sun to partial shade. For best results, however, plant it in a sunny location where soils are moist but well drained.

Is creeping phlox poisonous to dogs?

Plant phlox in your garden without worrying about Fido's or Fluffy's safety. Phlox, a flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae family, is not dangerous to dogs or cats. This evergreen perennial isn't toxic, so even if your pet nibbles on the leaves or flowers, no harm should ensue.

Is there a difference between phlox and creeping phlox?

Phlox foliage is deep green, fine-textured and needle-like. ... Moss phlox, also known as creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a low-growing variety that is used in alpine rock gardens and to edge garden paths and flower beds. There are many different hybrids of phlox, both annual and perennial.

Will creeping phlox choke out weeds?

Tufted creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) is a North American native that prefers partial sun or shade and moist soil. It has needle-like evergreen leaves that form a dense mat to effectively suppress weeds.

How do you winterize creeping phlox?

Winterizing Garden Phlox

If you live in a colder region, you can protect the phlox roots with a layer of mulch, but be sure to do this before the ground freezes. However, you can also prune phlox for winter by cutting them back once the flowers have faded. Prune in the late summer through the fall to avoid reseeding.

How do you maintain creeping phlox?

Pruning Creeping Phlox

Start to cut back flowering stems once half the blooms are spent. The leggy stems of Phlox subulata should be pruned in late spring after the blooms have faded. After flowering, remove dead stems from your creeping moss phlox, according to Mississippi State University Extension.

Is creeping phlox invasive?

Creeping phlox is actually a native Eastern US plant but it will grow just about anywhere in the United States. ... Needless to say, creeping phlox is one hardy plant. One of the best loved features about creeping phlox is that it will spread, but is not so brutish as to be invasive about it.

Is creeping phlox a good ground cover?

An Easygoing but Disorderly Ground Cover

Both phlox species are not particularly fussy, although they prefer well drained, humus-rich soil. Growing only 3-8 inches tall (7-20 centimeters), but spreading as wide as 9 inches up to 2 feet (22-60 centimeters), creeping phlox is an ideal ground cover and companion plant.

Can you walk on creeping phlox?

Creeping Phlox

Phlox preferes direct sunlight and well-drained soil, and it's durable enough to walk on throughout the year.

How do you keep creeping phlox blooming?

Fertilizer. Fertilizing in the late winter or early spring will promote growth and support a more robust bloom for your creeping phlox. Feed it with a general slow-release fertilizer suitable for flowering plants.

How long does creeping phlox last?

Native to eastern and central United States, this little plant is full of qualities, making it highly desirable in the landscape. Blooming profusely for 3-4 weeks in mid to late spring, Creeping Phlox boasts bright, fragrant flowers in shades of blue-purple, pink, red or white.

What is the longest blooming perennial?

Top 10 Long Blooming Perennials

1.) 'Moonbeam' Tickseed. (Coreopsis verticillata) ...
2.) Rozanne® Cranesbill. (Geranium) ...
3.) Russian Sage. (Perovskia atriplicifolia) ...
4.) 'Walker's Low' Catmint. (Nepeta x faassenii) ...
5.) Coneflowers. (Echinacea) ...
6.) 'Goldsturm' Black-Eyed Susan. (Rudbeckia) ...
7.) 'Autumn Joy' Stonecrop. (Sedum) ...
8.) 'Happy Returns' Daylily.

Does creeping phlox stay green in winter?

Moss phlox stays green year-round in mild climates. It forms dense mats of foliage 6 inches high and is often used as a ground cover. Tiny needle-like leaves cover its stems. In cold winter areas depending on snow cover, they may or may not defoliate.

Does creeping phlox need a lot of water?

In average garden soil you should not have to water your newly planted Creeping Phlox every day. More often than not, this causes soggy soil conditions that can lead to root rot and other plant diseases. In the absence of sufficient rainfall, water only as needed to keep the rootball and surrounding soil damp to moist.

What do you do with phlox in the winter?

Phlox in winter

Perennial phlox will grow back year after year but it is best, right after the first frost spells, to cut the foliage short. It would quickly turn black if left on the plant. Protect with a fair layer of dead leaf mulch.