Creeping phlox
Phlox stolonifera

Family: Polemoniaceae

What it is like

Phlox stolonifera is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Indigenous to rich deciduous woodlands, stream banks, open woods and shaded rocky slopes mostly in the Appalachian Mountains.

Native to woodlands in the vicinity of the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania south to northern Georgia in the United States. Naturalized populations occur as far north as Québec, Canada.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

USA

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A good medium to high density groundcover that can be grown in semi-shade. Good for woodland gardening.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

A long blooming mat forming perennial wildflower with showy flowers. Prefers bright shade with moist rich well drained soil. Plants tolerate acid or alkaline pH, drought, part sun and dry shade. Species self-seeds in optimum growing conditions. Spreads by stolons to form large colonies in the wild. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots. The root pattern is stoloniferous rooting from creeping stems above the ground.

Propagating it: Seed, division or by cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 4-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

A vigorous plant that can become weedy.

Its other names

Local names

Creeping phlox

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.