# Moss Phlox (*Phlox subulata L.*) Moss Phlox, also known as creeping phlox, is a low-growing flowering plant that forms colorful carpets in gardens. Its tiny flowers come in shades of pink, purple, and white, attracting butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Gardens - **Also known as:** Creeping Phlox, Phlox subulata ![Moss Phlox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/PurpleFlowerWade.JPG&width=800) Photo: UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PurpleFlowerWade.JPG) ## Appearance The Moss Phlox is a low-growing, mat-forming plant with dense, needle-like foliage that resembles moss. It bursts with abundant, star-shaped flowers, typically in vibrant shades of pink, purple, white, or blue, creating a distinctive carpet of color. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Polemoniaceae - **Genus:** Phlox ## Interesting facts - Even its scientific name, 'subulata,' means 'awl-shaped' just like its tiny leaves. - It's like nature's own ground cover, spreading a stunning, colorful blanket everywhere! - Its dense, cushion-like growth makes it feel wonderfully soft like a living carpet! - The bright flowers come in so many colors, it looks like a beautiful natural quilt. ## Special abilities - **Drought Resilience:** Moss Phlox can thrive in dry conditions thanks to its tough, tiny leaves that reduce water loss. - **Soil Anchor:** Moss Phlox has a dense, mat-forming growth habit that helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion on slopes. - **Early Bloomer:** Moss Phlox can burst into bloom early in spring, attracting early pollinators when other flowers are scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-15 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** Small Cabbage White (*Pieris rapae*) — butterfly feeds on nectar ## Traits - [Groundcover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/groundcover): Groundcover plants are low-growing vegetation that spreads horizontally to cover the ground, often suppressing weeds and preventing soil erosion. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy looking at Moss Phlox in gardens, but avoid picking or touching them to let them thrive. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Moss Phlox? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Moss Phlox? 10-15 cm ### How wide does Moss Phlox spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Moss Phlox? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does Moss Phlox bloom? Spring ### Is Moss Phlox edible? No ### Is Moss Phlox toxic? None ### What is Moss Phlox's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Reading Public Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reading-public-museum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Cumberland Mills Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cumberland-mills-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/soldiers-delight-natural-environment-area) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Plumpton Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plumpton-park-zoo) — Maryland, US · Zoo [View all places to see Moss Phlox](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/moss-phlox) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Moss Phlox: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moss-phlox)