Emerald Cushion Blue Creeping Phlox – 1 Gallon Pot

Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’

Our favorite and what we think is the best of all creeping Phlox, ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ is highly adaptable and a very easy to grow almost anywhere in the United States (USDA Growing Zones 3a-8b). The dense carpets of emerald-green evergreen foliage becomes literally SMOTHERED in late winter to early spring (South) or mid-spring (North) with 3/4-inch wide lavender-blue, 5-petaled flowers, heralding the arrival of spring like no other flowering perennial groundcover plant. Absolutely stunning in mass plantings on embankments or in borders. We have this one and several other varieties covering a sunny embankment in our gardens and spilling over stone walls. It’s one of those plants we always look forward to seeing it bloom…partly because of the flower show and partly because we know that spring has arrived!

Growing 3 to 5 inches tall and 24 inches or more wide, Emerald Cushion Blue Creeping Phlox is ideal for use as a low border or mass planting in landscape and perennial borders, home foundation plantings, on embankments, slopes or hillsides, or to slightly drape over stone walls. Lovely spilling over walls and boulders. Its small size makes it a perfect fit for smaller garden spaces or as a soil cover in container gardens. Flowering bulbs will pop right through it in spring and summer! A fine addition to blue theme gardens, cottage gardens and rock gardens.

Suggested Spacing:  18 inches apart for mass plantings;  48 inches or more apart for space between plants

Emerald Cushion Blue Creeping Phlox is exceptionally easy to grow in a variety of soils. It prefers a moist but well-drained soil however grows well in sandy or gravely soils and tolerates hot, dry exposures better than most other Phlox species. As with so many other perennial plants, constantly soggy soils can be problematic. The best flowering is in full sun. That said, in the Deep South, plants will appreciate a little dappled shade during the summer. Though not necessary, spent flower stems can be cut back or sheared to form a more dense carpet and possible rebloom. Plant with the top of the root ball even with ground level. Care and maintenance are minimal. Feed in spring with an organic plant food.