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 to 6 in tall and 18 to 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 to 6 in tall and 18 to 24 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: no rights reserved
- Photo 2: (c) Lindsey G., some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.5
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 4 to 6 in tall and 18 to 24 in wide
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Planting spacing
- ~17 to 24 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Bloom color
- pink, purple, white
- Bloom length
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Winter cover
- Strong winter cover
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Lawn alternative
- No-mow lawn alternative
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
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 to 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 to 6 in tall and 18 to 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 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 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.
- 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.
