Phlox stolonifera ‘Blue Ridge'
Phlox stolonifera 'Blue Ridge' is a charming woodland groundcover that forms a spreading mat of green foliage topped with clusters of fragrant lilac blue flowers in spring. Its early season blooms brighten shaded garden spaces while providing an important nectar source for pollinators emerging after winter.
Height & Spread: 6 - 8 in x 12 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Spring
Light Requirements: Part shade to shade
Soil Preference: Moist, organically rich, well drained soil
Watering Needs: Moderate; prefers evenly moist soil and benefits from watering during prolonged dry periods
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar belongs to Phlox stolonifera, a woodland species native to the eastern United States, particularly the Appalachian region. 'Blue Ridge' is a cultivated selection valued for its lavender blue flowers and spreading habit, making it useful in gardens designed to support native pollinators.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts early season butterflies including spring azures and other small native butterflies which visit the fragrant flowers for nectar.
Bees
- Draws native bees and bumblebees which gather nectar from its clusters of spring flowers when other nectar sources may still be limited.
Hummingbirds
- Provides an early season nectar source for hummingbirds returning to their breeding grounds, adding wildlife interest to woodland gardens and shaded borders.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to encourage a continuous groundcover while allowing room for individual plants to spread and establish.
Landscape Placement
- Ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, beneath deciduous trees, and along garden paths where its spring flowers create a colorful carpet. It also works well on shaded slopes and around shrubs where a spreading groundcover can soften bare soil.
Companion Plants
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' (Siberian Bugloss) - Adds silvery foliage that brightens shaded beds and contrasts with the green phlox foliage.
- Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania Sedge) - Forms a fine textured native groundcover that complements creeping phlox in woodland settings.
- Heuchera americana (American Alumroot) - Provides attractive foliage and a native woodland presence alongside the spring flowers.
- Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern) - Adds evergreen fronds and year round structure to shaded plantings.
- Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) - Offers delicate spring flower spikes and attractive foliage that blend naturally with the low spreading phlox.