Phlox is a spring flower that can give a dynamic statement to your garden in spring. This article will instruct you how to grow and care for phlox.
Spring flowers are a celebration to the return of the summer sun. Phlox is one of those flowers that put a twinkle in the eye and remind us of the beauty to come. Little mounds of pure color in a landscape or in a rock garden bring great pleasure to those who yearn for another growing year. They signify another beginning of the gardening year, a time to unearth the shovel and rake and begin to work the earth again.
Phlox means “flame” in Greek and flame tends to be a show stopper. It is so with the phlox flower because of the intense color produced. There are several different types of phlox but the variety that presents in low growing mounds of color is the creeping phlox or Phlox subulata. It comes in many different colors; white, pink, red, dark pink, purple, lavender, light blue, and there is even a variegated variety. When different colors are planted together it can look like a carpet of waves or an artist’s palette right in your own garden.
In the spring phlox produce tiny flowers in extremely dense clusters. The plants grow to about 2 to 6 inches in height and will eventually spread out to more than 1 or 2 feet. The flowers will die out after spring (about a 6 week show) and leave needle-like green foliage through the rest of the summer and even stay green during the winter.
Creeping phlox love full sun and the soil in which they are planted should be well drained. The plant is commonly used as a ground cover because they spread so don’t plant them where you don’t want them to wander. Phlox can be used as a border and are especially adaptable to rock gardens. When planted on slopes they make a most delightful springtime display but also prevent erosion. Phlox is a perennial and its beauty will only get better year after year.
Pests attracted to the plant are spider mites and rabbits love to munch on the foliage. Butterflies are attracted to the plant as well for its nectar.
Phlox benefits from fertilization with a slow release fertilizer once in the spring and late summer, but it doesn’t particularly need it. If you really want it to spread and flower profusely go ahead and fertilize.
The best thing about this plant is propagation is so easy. You can start new plants by cuttings but the easiest way is to propagate by division. It spreads so readily you can probably divide the next year and give it to friends and neighbors. The best time to propagate is in the fall and spring.
Phlox can be found easily at garden centers and planted after all danger of frost has passed. You will get a few flowers after planting but you will get more the following year. Plant in bunches leaving about 4 to 6 inches between each bunch. The plants will soon spread and grow together.
Phlox gives off a spectacular show every spring and is well worth planting in your garden.
