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February 2025

Feb 27
Creeping Phlox - Plant of the Week

Plant of the Week: Creeping Phlox

By Plant of the Week

Common name:

Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox

Botanical name:

Phlox subulata

Creeping phlox is an evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial that is popular for its vibrant blanket of flowers in spring. It is native to the eastern and central parts of the United States. The lightly fragrant flowers are attractive to pollinators.

  • Light Requirements: It blooms best in full sun but will tolerate light shade.
  • Water Requirements: Creeping phlox needs well draining soil and has low water requirements. Once established, it has a good drought tolerance.
  • Characteristics: It is mat forming with soft needle like foliage. It forms a dense carpet that is 2 to 6 inches tall and can spread about 2 feet. Star shaped flowers in spring are white, pink, purple or blue. Plants will tolerate sandy or gravelly soils and hot drier exposures. It is seldom browsed by rabbits or deer.
  • Uses: Because of its ground covering nature, it makes a great plant for the front of a border, rock gardens or erosion control on a hillside. It has a high tolerance for air pollution, making it a good choice between the sidewalk and roadway.
  • Interesting Facts: Creeping phlox is used as a component on green roofs.
  • Varieties:
    • ‘Snowflake’ becomes a mound of snowy white flowers for several weeks with a height of 2 to 4 inches.
    • ‘Emerald Blue’ forms a pretty carpet of lavender blue flowers and reaches 4 to 6 inches tall.
    • ‘Purple Beauty’ is similar to ‘Emerald Blue’ but has a darker purple hue.
Creeping Phlox - Plant of the Week
The genus name, Phlox, is from the Greek word phlox and means “flame.”
Creeping phlox is excellent at preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides because their spreading roots hold soil in their place.
Creeping phlox is native to the central and eastern portions of Canada and the United States. It is native mainly to the Appalachian Mountains.
Phlox is found in dry rocky, or sandy areas, savannas, rocky ledges, slopes, clearings, and open woodlands.
Creeping Phlox - Plant of the Week
Download Care Sheet PDF
Feb 20

Plant of the Week: Dianthus

By Plant of the Week

Common name:

Cheddar Pinks, Cottage Pinks, Sweet William, Carnations

Botanical name:

Dianthus spp

Dianthus is the quintessential cottage garden plant. They are loved for their blue-green grass like foliage and loads of starry flowers that are often clove scented. The dianthus genus includes over 27,000 registered cultivar varieties.

Removing the spent flowers encourages a second round of blooming. Dianthus attract butterflies and pollinators. They are resistant to damage from deer but will be eaten by rabbits.

  • Light Requirements: Part to full sun.
  • Water Requirements: Dianthus won’t tolerate overly wet soil and needs a well draining location.
  • Characteristics: Growing 4 inches to 3 feet, Dianthus can be annual, biennial or perennial. Flower color ranges from white, yellow, pink, coral, red and purple.
  • Uses: Depending on the variety you choose, they can be used as a border plant, in rock gardens, grouped in garden beds. They make great additions to cottage gardens, cutting gardens and in containers.
  • Interesting Facts: The common name pink comes from the fringed edges of the petals that look like they were trimmed with pinking shears.
  • Varieties:
    • ‘Yellow Bling Bling’ has beautiful double yellow, scented blooms and grows 10 to 12 inches tall.
    • Perennial ‘Coral Reef’ is an evergreen perennial with deep coral double flowers that have white edges and a spicy fragrance. 8 to 10 inches.
    • ‘Sweetie Pie’ produces loads of semi double pink flowers with a darker eye. Mounding foliage, 12 to 14 inches.
Dianthus are also known “Carnations” or “Sweet Williams”
There are around 300-species of Dianthus, and most of them are native to Asia and Eastern Europe
Dianthus flowers consist of five petals, with a zigzag or frilled edge
The Dianthus name comes from the combination of Dios (god) and anthos (flower), from the Greek language, which translates into the “flower of the gods.”
Download Care Sheet PDF
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