Creeping phlox shade growing does not work well for most gardeners. This popular spring bloomer prefers full sun to light shade only. It struggles in deep shade and often fails to flower at all in dim spots.
I learned this lesson the hard way in my own garden. I planted a row of creeping phlox under my maple tree hoping for a carpet of pink blooms each spring. By year two the plants looked thin and leggy. They gave me maybe five flowers total instead of the hundreds I expected.
The phlox subulata shade tolerance tops out at about four hours of direct sun per day. Anything less and your plants suffer. They need that light energy to produce all those colorful spring blooms. Morning sun with afternoon shade works okay. Full afternoon shade all day does not.
Knowing the creeping phlox light requirements helps you pick the right spot. This plant wants 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight to flower well. South facing slopes work great. The tops of rock walls in partial sun do fine. But under trees or on the north side of your house? Skip creeping phlox and try something else.
The good news is you have a great alternative for shaded spots. Woodland Phlox goes by the name Phlox divaricata. This cousin of creeping phlox handles shade much better. It blooms in spring with similar looking flowers in blue, pink, or white. You get that phlox look without fighting against nature.
Woodland Phlox grows eight to twelve inches tall compared to the flat mat of creeping phlox. It spreads by roots rather than trailing stems. The flowers have a light sweet scent that creeping phlox lacks. Deer tend to leave it alone which matters in many shaded gardens near woods.
Other flowering ground covers work even better for deep shade. Foamflower gives you white or pink flower spikes each spring. Sweet Woodruff produces tiny white blooms in May. Wild Ginger hides maroon flowers under its leaves. None match the flower density of creeping phlox in sun but all beat its sad performance in shade.
You can still use creeping phlox in gardens with mixed light. Plant it where morning sun hits for four or more hours. Let your shade loving plants take over the darker spots nearby. The bright phlox flowers draw your eye while the green ground covers fill in around them.
Match your plants to your light and everyone wins. Creeping phlox belongs in sunny spots where it can show off those stunning spring colors. Shade spots need plants built to handle low light from the start. Fighting against what a plant needs always ends in frustration. Work with nature and your garden rewards you with easy success.
Read the full article: 10 Top Ground Cover Shade Plants
