Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Eye Caramba Creeping Phlox: Bold Pink for Sunny Slopes and Edges
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Eye Caramba creeping phlox is the bolder sibling in the creeping phlox family. Its flowers are a rich medium pink, deeper than the pale types, and each one carries a distinct red eye. In mid-spring they pack in so tightly that the plant becomes a solid pink carpet flecked with red.
The mat stays no taller than about 6 inches and spreads to around 18 to 20 inches on trailing stems, which makes it a workhorse for slopes, rocky spots and the sunny front edge of a lavender bed.
Eye Caramba at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox subulata 'Eye Caramba' |
| Flowers | Medium pink with a red eye, about ¾ inch |
| Bloom | Starts late April, peaks early May |
| Size | 4 to 6 inches tall, 18 to 20 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 2 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Habit | Low, dense, evergreen mat on trailing stems |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
A slope plant that suits lavender
Lavender often ends up on slopes and banks because they drain so well, and Eye Caramba is happy in the same spots. Its trailing stems root along the ground and knit into a mat that helps hold soil, so it is useful for covering the bare ground between and below lavender plants on a hillside. Keep it a little away from lavender crowns so each plant keeps its airflow.
Color-wise, the stronger pink stands up well beside white-flowered or deep purple lavenders. Since it blooms weeks before the lavender, the bed gets two separate shows instead of one. Sketch it in with the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Sun and soil: full sun, average well-drained soil. Wet, heavy soil invites crown and root rot.
- On slopes: plant in staggered rows so the mats fill in quickly and cover the bank.
- Water: regularly until established, then only during long hot, dry spells.
- After bloom: shear by about a third to keep the mat dense.
- Pests: spider mites can show up in hot, dry weather; a rinse of water helps.
- Winter: keep fallen leaves and mulch off the mat, then snip out any browned patches in spring.
Walls, rocks and containers
Let Eye Caramba spill over a retaining wall, tuck it into the pockets of a rock garden or use it as a trailing edge in a sunny container. Bees and butterflies visit the spring flowers, and the faint, sweet scent is noticeable if you get down close.
About the plug tray
Eye Caramba is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a sensible size for covering a slope or edging a long bed, and for growers potting up their own plants. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is Eye Caramba different from the paler creeping phloxes?
It has a richer medium pink color with a red eye, so it reads as bolder from a distance.
Will it choke out my lavender?
No. It stays low at 4 to 6 inches. Just keep the mat from creeping right up against the lavender's woody base.
Is it evergreen?
Yes, the foliage stays green or bronzes over winter in Michigan.
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