Creeping phlox / moss phlox
Phlox subulata
Creeping phlox / moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 4–6 in tall and 18–24 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Brilliant spring display blanketing slopes. Needle-like foliage stays green year-round.
On the CSU listlow to medium water4–6 in tall and 18–24 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Phlox subulata
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Emerald Pink', 'Candy Stripe', 'Purple Beauty'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 4–6 in tall and 18–24 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~17–24 in apart
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Winter cover
- Strong winter cover
- Lawn alternative
- No-mow lawn alternative
- Bloom length
- 2–3 weeks
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Bloom color
- pink, purple, white
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Pollinator value
- high
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Using Creeping phlox / moss phlox as a groundcover
Creeping phlox / moss phlox forms a low mat. It fills in densely, crowding out most weeds. It holds strong cover through Front Range winters, so the ground doesn't go bare. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer to establish. After establishment, water 1–2×/month during dry stretches.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Creeping phlox / moss phlox good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Creeping phlox / moss phlox is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Creeping phlox / moss phlox get?
- It matures to about 4–6 in tall and 18–24 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Creeping phlox / moss phlox?
- Space Creeping phlox / moss phlox about 17 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 24 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Creeping phlox / moss phlox hardy on the Front Range?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox is hardy in USDA 3–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Creeping phlox / moss phlox need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Creeping phlox / moss phlox native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Creeping phlox / moss phlox deer-resistant?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Creeping phlox / moss phlox a good firewise plant near the house?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Can you walk on Creeping phlox / moss phlox?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Can Creeping phlox / moss phlox replace a lawn?
- Yes, Creeping phlox / moss phlox works as a no-mow lawn alternative on the Front Range. Expect a season or two of weeding and watering while it fills in before it reads as a lawn replacement.
- Will Creeping phlox / moss phlox spread or stay put?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox is mat-forming. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Creeping phlox / moss phlox stay green in winter?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox holds strong cover through Front Range winters, so the ground stays protected rather than going bare.
- Is Creeping phlox / moss phlox good for a slope?
- Yes. Creeping phlox / moss phlox helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does Creeping phlox / moss phlox bloom?
- Creeping phlox / moss phlox blooms for about two to three weeks on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
