North Hills Phlox subulata Creeping Phlox plant
Hundreds of Blue-eyed Blooms for Spring!
'North Hills' looks so dainty but acts so tough! Just 4 to 6 inches high, it spreads 12 to 18 inches wide within just a few seasons, its evergreen needle-like foliage a pleasing bright green. The flowers are held just above the leaves, completely obscuring them at the height of the late spring season. If you shear the plant back right after the blooms fade, it may even repeat for you!
A butterfly attractor and hummingbird magnet that stands out even from far away, 'North Hills' will carpet the garden floor in rich color. All it asks is full sunshine and excellent drainage; once established, it is quite tolerant of adversity, including drought, humidity, and poor soil. Even the deer leave it alone! So easy, so beautiful! Give it a try this season. Zones 2-9.
| Genus | Phlox |
| Species | subulata |
| Variety | 'North Hills' |
| Item Form | 1-Quart |
| Zone | 2 - 9 |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring |
| Habit | Spreading |
| Plant Height | 4 in - 6 in |
| Plant Width | 12 in - 18 in |
| Additional Characteristics | Bloom First Year, Butterfly Lovers, Easy Care Plants, Flower, Free Bloomer, Native, Repeat Bloomer |
| Bloom Color | Dark Blue, Dark Purple, Multi-Color, White |
| Foliage Color | Medium Green |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun |
| Moisture Requirements | Moist, well-drained |
| Resistance | Cold Hardy, Disease Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Humidity Tolerant, Pest Resistant |
| Soil Tolerance | Normal, loamy |
| Uses | Border, Containers, Ground Cover, Outdoor |
| Restrictions | Canada, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands |
- Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
- If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
- Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
- Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
- Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
- Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
- Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
- Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
- Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
- If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
- Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.
Moss or Mountain Pink
Planting:
Set out plants 6 to 8 inches apart in full sun, preferably in a rather dry, well-drained soil of low fertility. While tolerant of a wide pH range, P. subulata prefers a neutral or slightly alkaline soil.
Maintenance:
Shear back after flowering – this is essential to prevent the central portion of the clump dying out in a few years and presenting a rather shabby appearance.
Zones:
Zones 3-9
