Growing up in Tennessee, my backyard was a large expanse of woods right off a concrete patio.  In areas that received sunshine, one of my favorite plants was a groundcover called thrift, Phlox subulata.  Each spring, pink flowers brightened the slope as the groundcover spread amongst the rocks.  Luckily, I was able to bring a piece to Florida to add to my landscape over 24 years ago.

Thrift or creeping phlox is a low maintenance groundcover that only grows about 6 inches tall.  Plants grow well in moist, rich soil, but also in poorer soils or sand.  Planting sites should not hold water to prevent rotting roots. Phlox does need sunlight for best spring blooms but the Florida summer sun can be too intense.  Consider using in areas where sunlight is plentiful in the spring but tree canopies may offer shade in the summer heat.

This is usually not a groundcover for traffic areas so use stepping stones if you need to move through planted areas. There are cultivars with flowers that are red, white, or lavender but the original pink is very appropriate for the spring season.

If you choose Creeping phlox for your landscape, some neglect is good once plants are established. Pick a spot that has good air circulation and water as needed after root’s take hold. Routine overhead watering may lead to some disease in your plants.

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