Many people may not know what a Creeping Phlox is or may think that it sounds like a pretty strange name, but the creeping Phlox is one of the most beautiful flowers on the market. With bright purple, pink, white, and blue stars of flowers set against vibrant green foliage, it’s clear that the name doesn’t do justice to this delightful candy-colored plant.
Not only does it look great, but the Phlox is easy to grow, grows in tougher conditions, and is ideal for anyone that is hoping to add some color to their garden scape. This article looks to keep things short and sweet; it will discuss maintenance, propagation, and management. However, let’s begin by assessing some key facts that surround the Phlox.
| Flower Color | Pink, Purple, Blue, White |
| Soil Type Required | Sandy/Loamy soil |
| Ideal pH | 6.0-8.0 |
| Blooming Time | Early-Mid Spring |
| Native to | USA |
| Height | Grows to 3-8 inches |
| Pests | Mites or Powdery Mildew |
Table of Contents
Maintenance
Although the Creeping Phlox is not too high maintenance, it is still important to trim it once in a while. Cutting back stems is always a good idea because if done during the winter, it will set up the plant for a solid growth cycle by giving it more access to light and getting rid of any leaves in poor condition.
Cutting the stems back like this also encourages their naturally long growth to become shorter and woodier, creating more dense flowering.
Propagation
Propagation is quite straightforward with the Phlox because it is easy to do all three methods, division, stem cutting and rooted stems. The easiest way to propagate would be cutting; this helps a new set of plants to root after a couple of months.
To do this, cut a section of the plant, ideally from the stem, and keep it to 4-5 inches in length. Try to have 1-2 leaves on this cutting but be careful not to have any flower as a part of it. You should also ensure that the instrument used to cut the plant is clean so that you do not risk infecting the plant.
Place the new root in a pot with well-draining soil, use some perlite or sand, and that’s it; you should have a new creeping phlox plant within a few months!
Pests
As with all flora, the Creeping Phlox can be susceptible to pests, so you must take measures to ensure that this does not happen. Mites are the main pest source, and the best plan of action for dealing with them, is to act fast. Typically, insecticidal soaps are a good start and will help get rid of the mites.
There is also the problem of powdery mildew, which can be very frustrating for people if they do not know how to treat it or fail to treat it fast enough.
If you find a mildew-like substance building up on the flower, then look into watering it less than usual. However, the best preventative measure is pruning every once in a while. This will prevent overcrowding of leaves.
FAQs
Known as a Phlox subulata, the creeping Phlox is a groundcover plant that thrives in sunnier positions in your garden. There is another variant of the plant as well that prefers the shade, so it is important to know which variant you are buying.
With the creeping Phlox being quite a low maintenance plant with a moderate growth rate, it can be very easy to care for. However, it is best to plant it in springtime after the danger of frost has passed, as frost will damage the plant.
Browning in the center of a creeping phlox is usually an indicator that your plant’s roots are becoming crowded. 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.
Typically, a full-size creeping phlox plant will grow to be around 6-12 inches tall and about 10-14 inches wide, meaning that they can get quite large when looked after properly.
It is easily grown in humus-rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It is not fussy about soil conditions as long as there is good drainage. Creeping Phlox grows well in sandy or gravely soils and tolerates hot, dry exposures better than most phlox species.
