Creeping Phlox
Phlox stolonifera
A solid carpet of violet-pink spring bloom over a low evergreen mat. Knits together shaded slopes and stays tidy without any trimming.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
The best native groundcover for shaded slopes. fragrant spring blooms, evergreen mat, and genuine drought tolerance once established in shade.
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.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown creeping phlox propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant creeping phlox instead of Vinca minor (Periwinkle). Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 4–8 in · 12–24 in wide
- Bloom time
- April–May
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Family
- Polemoniaceae
- Native range
- Appalachian region. moist deciduous woods from Pennsylvania and Ohio south through the Appalachians to Georgia
Care notes for creeping phlox.
Plant in partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil. Consistent moisture through summer keeps the foliage looking fresh. After blooming, trim lightly if the plant looks straggly. Unlike Phlox subulata, this species does not like hot, dry conditions. keep it cool and moist for best performance. Divide every three to four years to keep colonies vigorous.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside creeping phlox.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.