Creeping phlox is a popular groundcover known for its vibrant, mat-forming blooms that bring a splash of color to spring gardens. Its low-growing habit and dense coverage make it an excellent choice for various landscape designs, from rock gardens to border fronts. Selecting appropriate companion plants can enhance the visual appeal of your garden and contribute to a healthier growing environment. This article explores suitable companion plants to pair with creeping phlox.
Understanding Creeping Phlox Preferences
Creeping phlox thrives in specific conditions that inform good companion plant choices. It generally prefers full sun, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering, though it can tolerate light shade in hotter climates. The plant requires well-drained soil and does not tolerate standing water. While adaptable to various soil types, including sandy or loamy, it flourishes best in slightly acidic to neutral pH levels (6.0-7.0). Once established, creeping phlox is drought-tolerant, but benefits from regular watering during its first year to develop a strong root system.
Characteristics of Good Companion Plants
Choosing effective companion plants for creeping phlox involves several key characteristics. Compatibility in light and soil requirements is important, as plants sharing similar needs will thrive together without excessive competition. Plants that prefer full sun and well-draining soil are generally good candidates.
Complementary bloom times can extend the garden’s visual interest beyond the peak spring display of creeping phlox. Contrasting textures or colors create visual appeal and prevent monotony; for example, pairing the fine foliage of phlox with broader leaves adds depth.
Additionally, selecting non-invasive plants is important to ensure companions do not outcompete the phlox for resources. Companion plants can also offer benefits like weed suppression, soil moisture retention, or attracting beneficial insects, contributing to a balanced garden ecosystem.
Recommended Companion Plants
Several plant varieties pair well with creeping phlox, enhancing its beauty and contributing to a balanced garden.
Spring-Blooming Bulbs
Spring-blooming bulbs are an excellent choice, emerging and blooming alongside or just before creeping phlox, creating a vibrant early season display. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and muscari (grape hyacinth) are particularly effective, with their sturdy stems often pushing through the dense phlox mat. The phlox foliage can then help conceal the bulbs’ dying leaves as they fade, maintaining a tidy appearance.
Low-Growing Perennials
Low-growing perennials that share similar sun and soil needs also make good companions. Sedum (stonecrop) offers fleshy foliage and star-shaped flowers that contrast nicely with phlox’s texture. Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) provides a carpet of white flowers in spring, while rock cress (Aubrieta deltoidea) blooms in shades of purple and red, creating a harmonious color palette. Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), with its silvery, velvety leaves, and creeping thyme are other drought-tolerant options that complement the phlox and help suppress weeds.
Shrubs and Taller Perennials
For adding vertical interest or year-round structure, small evergreen shrubs can be strategically placed behind or among creeping phlox. Dwarf conifers offer varying textures and forms, providing a backdrop that highlights the phlox’s spring blooms. Small boxwood shrubs can also provide a neat, evergreen presence. Taller perennials like yarrow (Achillea) and salvia (Salvia nemorosa) can also be used, adding pops of color and attracting pollinators, while their height ensures they do not overshadow the low-growing phlox.
Tips for Successful Companion Planting
Effective companion planting with creeping phlox requires attention to placement and ongoing care. Proper spacing is important to allow each plant ample room to grow to its mature size without overcrowding. For creeping phlox and its companions, a spacing of about 12 to 18 inches apart is generally recommended to ensure good air circulation and reduce the risk of diseases. This also helps prevent one plant from outcompeting another for light and nutrients.
Watering guidelines should prioritize the needs of both the phlox and its companions. While established creeping phlox is drought-tolerant, newly planted companions, or the entire planting during dry spells, will require consistent moisture. It is helpful to water deeply rather than frequently, encouraging roots to grow deeper into the soil, but avoid waterlogging the soil. Applying a layer of organic mulch around the plants can help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, benefiting the entire planting.