Photos thanks to David Sanford.

1990 Perennial Plant of the Year®

The Perennial Plant Association launched the Perennial Plant of the Year® program in 1990, selecting Phlox stolonifera as the very first honoree. Commonly known as creeping phlox, this charming native groundcover is native to the Appalachian Mountain regions, stretching from Pennsylvania to Georgia.

Creeping phlox offers a stunning carpet of color in spring and performs beautifully in mass plantings, flower beds, and rock gardens. It tolerates light foot traffic and spreads via stolons to form a dense mat of foliage.

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PLANT DATA

Hardiness
USDA Zones 5 to 9

Light
Full sun to partial shade

Size
6-12″ tall, 9-18″ wide

Soil
Moist, well-drained soils. Drought tolerant once established.

Maintenance Notes:

To prevent powdery mildew, regular deadheading is recommended. While generally low-maintenance, be mindful of potential issues with spider mites and slugs, especially in wet areas. Fortunately, deer and rabbits tend to avoid it, making it a pest-resistant choice for many landscapes.