Planting Phlox Subulata Now, Post-Bloom Time

There is a time for everything. And this isn’t the time for seeing Phlox subulata, known as Creeping Phlox, in full bloom. But it’s a perfect time for planting this ground cover that turns the garden floor into a colorful mat.

Phlox subulata has a significant bloom time in early spring, showing all its color at the time when Daffodils, Tulips, and the first Hosta shoots make their appearance. By the start of summer, the Phlox subulata sensational season has ended for most of us gardeners. But it is sensational, and worth preparing for.

I have purchased Phlox subulata at the very end of summer at a time when I needed to replace some plants I had harmed. Creeping Phlox is incredibly self-sufficient, but my human touch had created a few problems for some long-growing patches I wish I still had. But what I have now is “new”, purchased and planted at the very end of summer one year. (You guessed it: I’m talking about September. Now that is late.) I found this timing to be risky, but everything I read said that Phlox subulata would take hold quite quickly, and before the first frost. I went about my work of planting, and I was happy I did.

But thinking of the present, this start-of-summer (late June and into July) planting time is even more of a no-worries option. You’ll want to monitor Phlox subulata for moisture—it needs good drainage, but you’ll want to be sure it doesn’t dry out as it is trying to establish itself in your garden. But you can get the formula right, keeping your plants sufficiently moist but not sitting in water. And you can prepare a perfect patch that will be ready to dazzle you next spring.

Planting Phlox subulata in summer means you’ll expect your plants to arrive as green carpeting plants, no blooms. Now, my September shipment did in fact have a few small flowers on the plants, but I think this was a rarity. At this time of year and later in summer, most plants you’ll receive will be all foliage and no flowers. But the foliage covers the earth in a way that holds back weeds (hey, sign me up), and in a way that looks nice at the base of other plants.

Getting your Creeping Phlox in the ground now means that it will have an entire summer to fluff out in greenery, strengthen its small woody stems, and even perhaps push out a bloom or two. The timing is actually wonderful. Delayed gratification is involved, for certain, but your Phlox subulata plants will have the benefit of time… time to settle in, and time to add to their energy stores they will call on next spring. This will give you time to decide whether you want to leave your plants alone or give them a haircut in early autumn. (Shearing is typically done after bloom time to prompt good growth, but you’ll have to assess your plants, as they’ll be new ones and perhaps should be left alone for Year 1.) Either way, your pre-planning should pay off in spring.

With so many plants in full bloom in June and July, it seems unusual to bring in a haul of spring-blooming plants to add to the garden. But those who do, I think, are the true gardeners. The true gardeners know that instant gratification is great, but preparation—sometimes months in advance—will translate to pleasure. Planting now, gazing at the blanket of color later… a time for everything….