When it arrives
Your plug tray
Pot 72-cell plugs into 4-inch pots or plant out after hardening off. Creeping phlox plugs can go straight into the ground 12 inches apart to knit into a mat. Keep moist until rooted.
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Lavender companion · grow guide
Phlox · Phlox
Two very different plants: garden phlox (P. paniculata) is a tall summer bloomer that wants sun, rich moist soil and good air flow; creeping phlox (P. subulata) is a spring groundcover for sun and lean, well-drained soil.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Moderate waterAverage drainage
pH 5.5–7.5Soil
Zones 4a–8bHardiness
16″ tall16″ wide
SusceptibleDeer · rabbits susceptible
Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Baby Doll Pink will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–8b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with Baby Doll Pink
When it arrives
Pot 72-cell plugs into 4-inch pots or plant out after hardening off. Creeping phlox plugs can go straight into the ground 12 inches apart to knit into a mat. Keep moist until rooted.
Spring or early fall.
Plant at the same depth as in the plug or with the bare-root crown just at soil level.
Garden phlox 18–24 inches for air flow; creeping phlox 12–18 inches for a mat.
Garden phlox: rich, moist loam. Creeping phlox: sandy or gravelly, well-drained soil. · pH 5.5–7.5
Fix-it tip: Add compost for garden phlox. For creeping phlox, add grit to heavy clay or plant on slopes and walls so it never stays wet.
Full sun (tolerates light part shade).
Garden phlox in shade gets more mildew and fewer flowers; creeping phlox blooms best in full sun.
Don’t give up on it
Creeping phlox stays evergreen and flowers in early to mid-spring. Garden phlox emerges from the crown in mid-spring as reddish shoots and blooms in mid to late summer.
Creeping phlox blooms; thin garden phlox shoots.
Garden phlox blooms; deadhead and watch for mildew.
Cut garden phlox to the ground.
Creeping phlox stays green; garden phlox dormant.
First season: Water weekly through the first summer.
After that: Garden phlox needs about an inch a week; water at the soil, not over leaves. Creeping phlox is drought tolerant once established.
Garden phlox: compost plus a light balanced feed in spring. Creeping phlox: little to none.
Garden phlox: deadhead for more bloom; thin to 4–5 stems per clump in spring to reduce mildew. Creeping phlox: shear lightly after spring bloom.
Garden phlox every 3–4 years in spring. Creeping phlox rarely; divide or root pieces after bloom.
Both are very cold hardy (P. paniculata zones 4–8; P. subulata zones 3–9). Cut garden phlox to the ground in fall to remove mildewed leaves.
Garden phlox gets powdery mildew in humid weather; mildew-resistant varieties help. Creeping phlox can brown in hot, wet summers.
White powder on leavesLikely cause: Powdery mildew
What to do: Thin stems, water at the base, and plant resistant varieties
Stippled, pale leaves with webbingLikely cause: Spider mites
What to do: Hose off undersides; water in drought
Creeping phlox mat dies in patchesLikely cause: Wet soil or heavy mulch
What to do: Improve drainage; keep mulch off the mat
Shoots nibbled to stubsLikely cause: Rabbits or deer
What to do: Use fencing or repellents
Lower leaves yellowing and dropping means garden phlox is too dry; mushy, browning mats of creeping phlox mean wet soil.
ASPCA lists moss (creeping) phlox as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Deer: susceptible · Rabbits: susceptible
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 2 gallon+
Creeping phlox spills over pot edges; compact garden phlox also works in large pots.
Outdoor plant
Hardy perennials that need winter dormancy.
Best after a cold winter
Creeping phlox blooms in spring after winter cold; garden phlox often blooms the first summer.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 2 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it near your lavender
Creeping phlox fits the edge of a sunny lavender bed with the same lean, well-drained soil. Garden phlox needs richer, moister soil, so grow it in a neighboring border.
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