Emerald Blue Phlox (Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue')
flox sub-yew-LAY-tah 'Emerald Blue'

Deciduous Perennial in the Polemoniaceae Family
 

About Moss Phloxes

Commonly known as Creeping Phlox, Phlox subulata creates a literal carpet of blooms every spring that will last for about six weeks and is, quite frankly, hard to compare to any other groundcover. Creeping phlox is minimally invasive, so it’s rather well-behaved and plays well with others (read: will fill in around plants without smothering them to death).

 

Put this showy spring perennial in full sun; along walkways, on steep slopes, and anywhere that could use an evergreen groundcover to really look filled out. When this plant is done blooming, it resembles a needly kind of moss, which makes it an attractive, reliable filler.

Pros

  • Dense, bright color for six weeks in spring
  • Minimally invasive
  • Many colors and varieties available
  • Evergreen ground cover
  • Can grow in most soil types

 

Cons

  • Very susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal leaf disease
  • Requires full sun to bloom and thrive
  • Doesn’t like having wet feet

 

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 4 - 6 inches tall. 12 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Dry
Zones 2a - 8b
Tags Adaptable, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edging, Fast Growth Rate, Filler, Formal Garden, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Nativar, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil Blue or Purple Flowering Perennials, Deer Resistant Perennials, Ground Covers, Pink or Red Flowering Perennials, White Flowering Perennials
Bloom Period March to May
Flower Color Red-Purple To Violet-Purple To Pink To White
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Virginia Bluebells, Tsavo Yellow Ice Creeping Zinnia
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

The next order is coming up soon. Here's a link to our ordering calendar. Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!