Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Red Wing Creeping Phlox: A Crimson Spring Edge for Lavender
Save
Red Wing creeping phlox is an older, well-loved variety prized for one of the deepest colors in the group: pinkish crimson with a dark red eye. In spring the flowers pack in so tightly that the needle-like foliage disappears, and the color reads clearly from across the yard.
The rest of the year it is a low, tidy, evergreen mat that asks for very little, which is exactly what you want along the edge of a lavender bed.
Red Wing at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Phlox subulata 'Red Wing' |
| Flowers | Pinkish crimson with a dark red center, about 3/4 inch |
| Foliage | Green, needle-like, evergreen |
| Size | 4 to 6 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Late April, peaking early May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 2 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Fragrance | Faint and sweet, noticeable up close |
Spring color before the lavender wakes up
A lavender bed in April is mostly gray-green mounds waiting for warmth. Red Wing fills that gap. It blooms in late April and early May, weeks before lavender, so the bed has a bold crimson border while the lavender is still putting on new growth. Once the phlox finishes, its green mat quietly frames the lavender for the rest of the season.
The two share the same basic needs: sun, good drainage and no soggy ground. Plant the phlox along the outside edge so it does not creep under the lavender crowns, where it could hold moisture. It is also excellent spilling over a low wall or down a sunny slope below a lavender planting. Work out the edge in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun in average, well-drained soil. It tolerates dry spells and dislikes wet ground.
- Spacing: set plants so the mats can knit together over a season or two.
- Water: regularly while it establishes; afterward, only in very hot, dry spells so the mat does not brown.
- After bloom: shear the mat back by about a third to keep it dense and tidy.
- Problems: wet, heavy soil can rot the center; spider mites may appear in hot, dry weather.
Over winter
Red Wing is hardy across Michigan. The foliage stays green or turns bronze through the cold months. Sharp drainage matters far more than covering it, so rake fallen leaves off the mat in fall and do not pile mulch on top. Trim out any browned patches in spring and the mat will fill back in.
Tray or bare root
It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, ideal for edging long beds or covering a slope, and as a bare root plant for direct planting. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Will it crowd out my lavender?
It spreads as a low mat, not aggressively. Keep it trimmed back from lavender crowns so air can reach their base.
Is it good for slopes?
Yes. Its trailing stems knit into a dense cover that suits sunny slopes and rocky spots.
Do pollinators visit it?
Bees and butterflies visit the flowers, which is welcome food early in the season.
Share how it went in your field