Creeping Phlox

Phlox stolonifera

When Creeping Phlox blooms in spring, it becomes a solid carpet of color. violet-pink flowers so dense they nearly hide the foliage underneath. It spreads by stolons to fill in shaded slopes and woodland edges, rooting as it goes and knitting together bare ground with a low, evergreen mat that looks good year-round. The fragrance is soft and sweet, noticeable when you walk past on a warm morning. Unlike the more common Phlox subulata of sunny rock gardens, Phlox stolonifera belongs to the shade. Pair it under spring ephemerals like Virginia Bluebells. the phlox fills in as the bluebells go dormant, creating a seamless handoff. Native bee queens emerge in spring and find it immediately. It stays tidy without any trimming and rarely needs dividing.