Product Description
Phlox subulata 'Blue Emerald' (25) Bare Root Plants
Common name: Phlox-Creeping, Moss Pinks.
'Blue Emerald' has delicate lavender blue flowers which blanket the foliage in mid to late spring. Its profuse carpet of flowers creates a subtle swathe of color when in bloom. Creeping Phlox is a versatile, easy to grow groundcover which forms a carpet-like mat. Creeping Phlox is a low-growing species which forms a carpet-like mat no taller than 6". This popular little perennial is best utilized in rocky areas, on slopes, and in flower borders.
Creeping Phlox is a versatile, easy to grow groundcover for full sun. Gritty, neutral soils are preferred, and good drainage is essential. It's a good idea to shear this plant back and clean up any dead foliage in early summer, just after it's finished blooming. This will produce denser foliage and will encourage it to rebloom. Divisions can be made every few years in summer.
Height: 4.0-6.0 Inches
Spread: 12.0-18.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Purple-blue shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Low to Average Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Mid Spring
Attracts Butterflies
Bee Friendly
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Easy To Grow, Edging, Ground Cover, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant, Native to North America
Phlox subulata 'Blue Emerald' is a charming and low-growing perennial that is perfect for adding a splash of early spring color to your garden. Here is a rundown of what makes this plant so special:
Appearance:
- Flowers: 'Blue Emerald' produces a profusion of small, star-shaped flowers in a lovely lavender-blue hue. These blooms practically cover the entire plant in mid to late spring, creating a beautiful carpet of color.
- Foliage: The plant has needle-like, evergreen leaves that form a dense, mat-like growth habit. The foliage is dark green, providing a nice contrast to the light blue flowers.
- Growth Habit: It is a creeping phlox, meaning it spreads horizontally and forms a low, dense mat. It typically grows 4-6 inches tall and can spread 12-18 inches wide.
Growing Conditions:
- Hardiness Zones: 'Blue Emerald' is hardy in USDA zones 3-9, making it a versatile choice for many climates.
- Sunlight: It thrives in full sun, needing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate some light shade, but flowering may be reduced.
- Soil: It prefers well-drained soil and is particularly well-suited to sandy or rocky soils. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
- Water: Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering. However, it is important to keep the soil consistently moist during the first year to help it establish its roots.
Care:
- Shearing: After flowering, shear the plant back to maintain a neat form and encourage new foliage growth. This will also lead to more abundant blooms the following spring.
- Fertilizing: It generally does not require heavy fertilization. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient.
- Mulching: Mulching is not usually necessary due to its dense growth habit, which helps to suppress weeds.
Benefits:
- Early spring color: It provides a welcome burst of color in early spring when many other plants are just starting to emerge.
- Ground cover: Its spreading habit makes it an excellent choice for a ground cover, especially in sunny, dry areas.
- Attracts pollinators: The flowers attract butterflies and other beneficial insects.
- Low maintenance: Once established, it is a relatively low-maintenance plant.
- Deer resistant: It is generally deer resistant, making it a good option for gardens where deer are a problem.
Uses:
- Rock gardens: Its love for well-drained soil and its cascading habit make it perfect for rock gardens.
- Slopes: It is ideal for planting on slopes, where it can help to prevent erosion.
- Borders: It can be used to create a colorful edging for borders and pathways.
- Ground cover: It is an excellent choice for a low-maintenance ground cover in sunny areas.
- Containers: It can also be grown in containers, especially when allowed to cascade over the edges.
Companion Plants:
- Spring bulbs: It pairs beautifully with spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
- Other rock garden plants: It can be combined with other low-growing, drought-tolerant plants that thrive in similar conditions, such as sedum, sempervivum, and dianthus.
Overall, Phlox subulata 'Blue Emerald' is a delightful and easy-to-grow perennial that is perfect for adding a touch of spring color to your garden. Its low-maintenance nature, drought tolerance, and ability to attract pollinators make it a valuable addition to any landscape.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
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Im ewady for Spring blossoms
I ordered 50 plants with some expectation I would lose a couple. I received 50 vibrant Uber heathy plants. They have been in the ground for 16 days and all remain healthy. I love this type of ground cover flowers and have been buying them for years. These flowers I received are the very best ever at any price. I am working on my next purchase!