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Star Rock Phlox

Phlox stolonifera, commonly called creeping phlox, is a spreading, mat-forming phlox which is native to wooded areas and stream banks in the Appalachian Mountains. Makes a nice groundcover for woodland gardens, shade gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. Also an effective cover for early spring bulbs. Also appropriate for shaded areas of border fronts and rock gardens.

Creeping, leafy, vegetative (sterile) stems typically form a foliage mat to 3" tall and spread indefinitely. Loose clusters (cymes) of fragrant, tubular, lavender flowers (to 3/4" wide) with five, flat, petal-like, rounded lobes appear on upright, leafy, flowering stems which rise above the foliage mat to 8" tall in spring. Oblong to oval green leaves (to 3" long) on the sterile stems, with smaller flowering stem leaves (to 3/4" long).

Photo: Dr. Thomas G. Barnes

Larval Host for the

.5-1'

.75-1.5'

SIZE

SOIL

Medium

LIGHT

Sun, Part Shade

BENEFITS

Toads

NOTES

Powdery mildew can be a problem as summer humidity kicks in. Cutting back stems after flowering helps combat mildew and prevents self-seeding. Spider mites can also be a problem, particularly in hot, dry conditions. Watch out for rabbits.

CHARACTERISTICS

Fragrant, Showy, Deer Tolerant, Tolerates Rabbits

July, August, September

Groundcover

This 

flowers in

Creeping Phlox

Phlox stolonifera

DETAIL VIEW

DESCRIPTION

Phlox stolonifera, commonly called creeping phlox, is a spreading, mat-forming phlox which is native to wooded areas and stream banks in the Appalachian Mountains. Makes a nice groundcover for woodland gardens, shade gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. Also an effective cover for early spring bulbs. Also appropriate for shaded areas of border fronts and rock gardens.

Creeping, leafy, vegetative (sterile) stems typically form a foliage mat to 3" tall and spread indefinitely. Loose clusters (cymes) of fragrant, tubular, lavender flowers (to 3/4" wide) with five, flat, petal-like, rounded lobes appear on upright, leafy, flowering stems which rise above the foliage mat to 8" tall in spring. Oblong to oval green leaves (to 3" long) on the sterile stems, with smaller flowering stem leaves (to 3/4" long).

Photo: Dr. Thomas G. Barnes
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