Great Companion Plants for your Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox, Moss Pink, Mountain Phlox, Phlox subulata

Considered one of the most colorful of all ground covers, Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox) is a popular evergreen perennial with masses of delicate pink, magenta, purple-blue or white flowers in mid to late spring. They bloom so profusely that they blanket the dark green, needle-like foliage.

Fast-growing, Creeping Phlox forms a pretty flower carpet and adds a splash of color for about 3-4 weeks. Perfect for rocky areas, slopes, and flower borders, this eastern North American native is also hardy, trouble-free, deer resistant, and requires little care.

Easy to grow in full sun (tolerates dappled shade) in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils, Creeping Phlox is a fabulous addition to the garden year-round, especially when it has been maintained by shearing after bloom.

Rather than let this charming beauty bloom lonesomely in a bare patch, give it companion plants and layer your plantings for maximum drama. Creeping Phlox makes perfect partners with other plants and helps create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden.

Guide Information

Hardiness	2 - 9
Heat Zones	1 - 8
Climate Zones	1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type	Perennials
Genus	Phlox
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Mid, Late)
Maintenance	Low
Soil Type	Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Evergreen
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Salt

Great Companion Plants for your Creeping Phlox

Aubrieta deltoidea (Rock Cress)

Aubrieta deltoidea, or Rock Cress, is a vigorous and captivating perennial plant. Its vivid purple-red flowers in mid-late spring to early summer create a stunning scene, nearly covering the gray-green foliage. This low and trailing plant is ideal as ground cover, along pathways, or in rock gardens. With its easy care and cold-hardy nature, Aubrieta is a must-have for sunny gardens.

Hardiness	5 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early)
Height	4" - 9" (10cm - 23cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Aurinia saxatilis (Basket-of-Gold)

Don’t underestimate the beauty of Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis)! This delightful, low-growing perennial will captivate your garden with its abundant golden-yellow flowers, shining brightly for 4 to 6 weeks in spring. Its gray-green foliage provides a lovely contrast, making it perfect for rock gardens or cascading over raised beds. Even after flowering, this popular plant retains its attractive appearance and serves as a charming ground cover.

Hardiness	3 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Bergenia cordifolia (Heartleaf Bergenia)

Native to Siberia, Bergenia cordifolia (Heartleaf Bergenia) is an evergreen perennial known for its hardiness and vigor. It features erect clusters of deep-pink flowers in early spring, rising above glossy, heart-shaped leaves. This low-maintenance plant serves well as a ground cover and looks stunning in mass plantings.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid), Winter
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer)

With its dense mat of silvery-gray foliage and abundant pristine white flowers, Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-In-Summer) is a low-growing perennial that adds beauty to sunny areas. Blooming profusely in late spring and early summer, this evergreen plant spreads rapidly by self-seeding, making it an excellent choice for ground cover.

Hardiness	3 - 7
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Spread	6" - 2' (15cm - 60cm)

Euphorbia polychroma (Cushion Spurge)

Incredibly showy, Euphorbia polychroma is a mounding perennial considered one of the best for borders. Growing in an attractive dome, it bears dense, flattened golden-yellow flowers in spring, and is one of the few perennials to display a showy fall foliage. Although the flowers are not showy, they are subtended by long-lasting, bright sulfur-yellow bracts which are exceptionally eye-catching. The foliage of medium green leaves turns to a showy red, purple or orange in fall, providing a long season of interest.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Iberis sempervirens (Evergreen Candytuft)

Iberis sempervirens (Evergreen Candytuft) is a delightful, low-growing perennial that adds charm to your garden in spring. Its pure white flowers, adorned with delicate yellow dots, stand out against the dark green foliage. This fabulous plant shouldn’t be overlooked, as it brings a touch of elegance to any landscape.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Leucojum aestivum (Summer Snowflake)

Leucojum aestivum, although called ‘Summer Snowflake’, flowers in mid-spring and boasts 4-8 white, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped tepals, dangling from each long, fairly sturdy flower stem. As an added bonus, the flowers are softly chocolate-scented!

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	2" - 3" (5cm - 8cm)

Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth)

Multiple award-winner Muscari armeniacum is by far the most cultivated species of Muscari. Its tiny, bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers, each with a very delicate white border, form a compact cluster. The flowers remain beautiful for a long time in mid-late spring. A great bulb for naturalizing, that is deer resistant, perfect for containers and outstanding as a border plant.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	6" - 8" (15cm - 20cm)
Spread	1" - 2" (3cm - 5cm)

Narcissus ‘Hawera’ (Triandrus Daffodils)

A highly regarded and dependable variety, Narcissus ‘Hawera’ is a compact daffodil with 6-8 delicate, nodding flowers per stem. The pale yellow blooms have a mild fragrance and charming star-shaped petals. With up to 9 stems, it creates a cheerful bouquet in mid to late spring. This long-lasting daffodil thrives in acidic soil and is suitable for container gardening.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late)
Height	6" - 8" (15cm - 20cm)
Spread	2" - 3" (5cm - 8cm)

Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem)

Originating from the Mediterranean, Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) is a bulbous perennial that produces racemes of star-shaped white flowers with green exteriors. These flowers open in sunlight and close during dull weather. With up to 16-20 flowers per stem, this plant is a vigorous naturalizer and should be planted where it won’t disturb other plants.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears)

Stachys byzantina, commonly known as Lamb’s Ear, is a low-growing perennial with distinctive silver-gray, velvety foliage. It reaches 6-8 inches in height (15-20 cm), producing small, pink to purple flowers in early summer. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, it’s perfect for ground cover and borders.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	6" - 2' (15cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 3' (30cm - 90cm)

Tulipa Clusiana ‘Lady Jane’ (Botanical Tulip)

Tulip ‘Lady Jane’ is quite short but makes a striking impact with its lovely color combination: rosy red with white margins on the outside, and snow-white on the inside. The completely opened flower forms a star during the sunny hours. Wet, windy weather during its flowering period in mid-spring will have little effect on ‘Lady Jane’!

Hardiness	3 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid)
Height	10" (25cm)
Spread	3" (8cm)

Garden Examples

A Colorful Garden Path

A Pretty Rock Garden Idea with Colorful Alpine Plants

A Romantic Spring Border Idea with Tulips & Creeping Phlox

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.