What are the downsides of creeping phlox?
While their myriad features make a strong case for growing creeping phlox plants, it’s undeniable that they’ve got their fair share of downsides. Fungi find their foliage quite palatable and love to afflict them with powdery mildew and black root rot disease. Creeping phlox needs good air circulation and deadheading to prevent powdery mildew as well as self seeding. Hot, dry sites can lead to problems with spider mites, and slugs can become a pest in wet sites. It is deer and rabbit tolerant. More information on phlox.Garden Phlox thrives in well-drained soil and benefits from occasional deadheading to encourage prolonged blooming. Providing adequate air circulation and spacing between plants helps prevent powdery mildew, a common issue with older varieties.Once established, these plants provide consistent blooms year after year, making them a long-term investment. Typically, Phlox has a lifespan of 3-5 years, with some varieties living even longer.Phlox can be planted in the spring or the fall. When planting in the spring, wait until danger of spring frost has passed. In the fall, plant transplants at least four weeks before the first fall frost date. This gives the plants time to establish their roots.
What is the difference between creeping phlox and Phlox subulata?
Creeping phlox is often confused with: Both are semi-evergreen groundcovers that boast a bounty of bright spring blooms, but there are a few notable differences between the two phlox species. Phlox subulata grows shorter, forming a lower, more dense habit than its counterpart. Overwintering Creeping Phlox: Creeping Phlox is hardy in many regions, though some winter care, especially in colder climes, can ensure more vigorous growth the following year: Avoid cutting back in the fall, as the foliage helps protect the plant over the winter.From Seeds: It typically takes 2 to 3 years for Creeping Phlox to reach full maturity when grown from seeds. From Cuttings: Cuttings can hasten maturity, with plants establishing themselves within a year.Creeping Phlox makes perfect partners with other plants and helps create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden.When to Plant Creeping Phlox. The ideal time to plant Creeping Phlox in Virginia is in early spring (March to April) when temperatures are cool, and the plant is actively blooming. Planting at this time gives the phlox plenty of time to establish its roots before the heat of summer.Winter Dormancy Explained It’s a survival tactic, where the plant conserves energy and reduces activity to make it through the cold months. To tell if your Creeping Phlox is dormant, look for slowed growth and fewer new leaves.
Where does creeping phlox grow best?
Location: creeping phlox thrives in full sun, but it can tolerate light shade, especially in hotter climates. More sun typically leads to a denser bloom. Soil: this plant prefers well-drained soil. While it can tolerate a range of soil types, from sandy to clay, it doesn’t like to sit in water. Mulch. Using a light mulch in the first season of growing your creeping phlox will help to suppress weeds as the groundcover fills in.Creeping Phlox After blooming, the needle-like foliage forms dense mats that weeds struggle to penetrate. It spreads steadily but not aggressively, making it perfect for areas where you want coverage without constant expansion.Creeping phlox prefers full sun. You can try woodland phlox, myrtle, sweet woodruff, ferns and creeping Jenny instead.As its common name suggests, woodland phlox does best in woodland conditions in partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soils. It is very adaptable and will tolerate dry and clay soils and is even drought tolerant once established. Although partial shade is best, it will tolerate full sun in cooler climates.Once established, ground covers like creeping phlox begin suppressing weeds by giving them no space to grow – essentially crowding them out. Try weeding before planting your creeping phlox during the spring or fall – this should help with suppression and keep weeds at bay next bloom.
Does Phlox subulata like sun or shade?
Moss phlox prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil and full sun. It flowers best in full sun, but in hot, humid summers, the plant appreciates some dappled sun. They like sandy and gravelly soil and can tolerate hot and dry conditions better than other species of phlox. The “creeping phlox” common name is used for two plant species: Phlox stolonifera and Phlox subulata. Both species are also called moss phlox. The latter is sometimes called mountain phlox. On the other hand, “creeping thyme” is only used for the Thymus serpyllum species.
What is the difference between creeping phlox and phlox Subulata?
Creeping phlox is often confused with: Both are semi-evergreen groundcovers that boast a bounty of bright spring blooms, but there are a few notable differences between the two phlox species. Phlox subulata grows shorter, forming a lower, more dense habit than its counterpart. Spring Phlox (Phlox subulata and other hybrids) Daffodils, hyacinths, muscari, fritillaria and early tulips all make good companions for spring phlox.They’re also an important early source of nectar for pollinators. Creeping Phlox are perfect for complementing taller perennials such as Bearded Iris, Siberian Iris, or Garden Phlox, and lovely paired with taller spring-blooming bulbs such as Daffodils and Tulips. Deer resistant and drought tolerant once established.