How to identify Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)

How to identify Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)

Creeping phlox, also known as Moss pink, Britton's phlox

Creeping phlox is a low-growing perennial known for its mat-forming growth, reaching up to 6 inches (15 cm) in height and spreading 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) in width. It bears narrow, needle-like foliage that is green and linear to awl-shaped, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. During early to mid-spring, creeping phlox showcases loose clusters of vibrant, tubular flowers, each approximately 3/4 inch (2 cm) across, with five distinct, flat, notched petals that come in a palette of pink, lavender, white, or reddish-purple.

Lifespan: Perennial, Annual

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Creeping phlox

Mat-forming growth up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) wide.

Vibrant tubular flowers, 3/4 inch (2 cm) across, in pink, lavender, white, or reddish-purple.

Opposite leaves, 1/4-3/4 inch (6-19 mm) long, awl-shaped with white-hairy edges.

Light green to reddish-purple woody stems with prostrate growth and hairy texture.

Inconspicuous oval seed capsules, around 4 mm (0.16 inches) long, for effective reseeding.

Detailed Traits of Creeping phlox

Leaf Features

The leaves of creeping phlox are opposite, measuring 1/4 to 3/4-inch (6 to 19 mm) long and 1-2 mm wide. They are linear to awl-shaped and taper to a sharply pointed tip. These semi-evergreen leaves are small, simple, acute, entire, semi-rigid, and green. They are stalkless and densely arranged, with white hairs fringed along the edges, making them a distinctive identification feature.

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Flower Features

Creeping phlox flowers bloom in loose, terminal clusters of 2 to 8. They are fragrant and tubular, up to 3/4 inches (1.9 cm) wide, typically appearing in April-May. The flowers range in color from red-purple to bluish-purple, pink, or occasionally white. Each flower has five flat, rounded, and notched petals, arranged around a green, awl-shaped, and 5-lobed calyx. The slender tubular corolla, less than an inch (<2.5 cm) long, spreads at right angles to the tube. The sepals and flower stalks are hairy and green or purplish.

Inflorescence Type

Cymes

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Stem Features

The stems of creeping phlox are light green to reddish-purple and woody. They are hairy, branched, pubescent, and have a sprawling, prostrate growth habit. The stems root at the nodes and form dense mats. Over time, older growth becomes knotty, semi-woody, and loses most of its foliage. These stems are crucial for identification due to their unique coloration, texture, and mat-forming ability.

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Fruit Features

The fruit produced by creeping phlox manifests as an inconspicuous oval seed capsule, which reaches a modest size of approximately 4 mm (0.16 inches) in length. Upon maturity, this 3-valved seed capsule typically contains three or more seeds. The capsule's exterior is neutral in color, blending seamlessly with the surrounding foliage. Noteworthy is the capability of creeping phlox to disseminate these seeds, effectively ensuring the spread and propagation of the species through reseeding. This characteristic is of particular interest to those who appreciate creeping phlox's unassuming yet essential role within its ecological niche.

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Creeping phlox and Their Similar Plants

Garden phlox vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

The garden phlox is a flowering plant that is native to the United States. The name, phlox, comes from the Latin for "flame," reflecting its bright colors. Garden phlox flowers can become important food sources for insects and hummingbirds.

Annual phlox vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Annual phlox (Phlox drummondii) is a flowering plant native to the United States. Thomas Drummond the historical naturalist sent the seeds back to Britain after a trip to Texas, and the plant is named after him. Annual phlox is a popular ornamental plant due to its bright pink flowers, which can be other colors from other cultivars.

Wild blue phlox vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) also goes by the names of woodland phlox or Louisiana phlox, and it’s indigenous to eastern North America. The flowers sit atop hairy, sticky stems. In the wild, it loves to grow along stream banks. “Phlox” is Greek for “flame” because some flowers of this species have intensely vibrant colors.

Downy phlox vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Downy phlox is a species of phlox that natives to eastern North America. This hairy plant gives pretty pink to purplish flowers in the late spring to early summer and does well in gardens with sandy soil.

Wild sweetwilliam vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Wild sweetwilliam (Phlox maculata) exists in various parts of North America, but is only rarely encountered in the wild. Its Latin name includes “maculata,” which is derived from the Latin word for “spotted” in reference to its speckled purple stems. It's also called speckled phlox or spotted phlox.

Smooth phlox vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Smooth phlox (*Phlox glaberrima*) is an upright, clump-forming, lipomatous perennial plant species. Smooth phlox grows in moist meadows, low woods, and along riverbanks. This species attracts butterflies, moths, and bees.

Creeping phlox vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Known for attracting wildlife such as small mammals and hummingbirds, creeping phlox is a useful groundcover for shade and woodland gardens with its mat-forming habit providing excellent cover for early spring bulbs. Creeping phlox has been used in traditional medicine but nowadays is mostly valued as an easy-to-maintain eye-catching perennial.

Garden phlox 'David' vs. Creeping phlox: What's The Difference?

Garden phlox 'David' is a cultivar of the Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), selected for the color of its flowers. Unlike the flowers of the parent plant which are rarely white in nature, this cultivar has pure white flowers, arranged in attractive panicles. It is also noted for its extreme resistance to powdery mildew.

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Key Facts About Creeping phlox

Attributes of Creeping phlox

Lifespan

Perennial, Annual

Plant Type

Herb

Plant Height

13 cm

Spread

50 cm

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

2 cm

Flower Color

White

Pink

Blue

Purple

Red

Lavender

Violet

Stem Color

Green

White

Purple

Pink

Blue

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Creeping phlox

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)

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Distribution Map of Creeping phlox

Creeping phlox is an attractive wildflower that can be seen growing wild on savannas, sandy barrens, and rocky ground in the eastern US and Canada. It also grows as an introduced species in Uzbekistan, Austria, and the old Czechoslovakia. It is grown ornamentally throughout its native range.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Creeping phlox

A Comprehensive Guide to Creeping phlox How to Grow and Care for Creeping phlox