Moss phlox 'Amazing Grace' Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace'
ABOUT
'Amazing Grace' is a mat-forming, evergreen perennial to 15cm high with fine, needle-like green leaves and, from mid- to late spring, a profusion of white to pale pink flowers with purple-pink eyes
About this plant
NamesFamily
Polemoniaceae
Synonyms
Moss Phlox, Creeping Phlox, Moss Pink, Mountain Phlox, Ground Pink, Moss Pinks
Common names
Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace'.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
6 inches (15 cm)
Spread
2 feet (60 cm)
Plant type
Creeper
Hardiness zones
3
Native area
North America
Benefits
General Benefits- Low Maintenance - Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for gardeners who prefer low-maintenance plants.
- Drought Tolerant - This plant is highly adaptable to dry conditions, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Ground Cover - It provides excellent ground cover, helping to suppress weeds and prevent soil erosion.
- Attractive Flowers - The plant produces vibrant, white flowers with a striking central star pattern, enhancing the visual appeal of any garden space.
- Attracts Pollinators - The flowers attract butterflies and other beneficial pollinators, promoting biodiversity.
- Evergreen - In many climates, Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' maintains its foliage year-round, providing consistent greenery.
- Easy to Propagate - It can be easily propagated through cuttings or division, allowing gardeners to expand their plantings with little effort.
- Edging and Borders - Its compact growth habit makes it an excellent choice for edges and borders in landscape design.
- Rapid Growth - The plant spreads quickly, covering bare spots in the garden efficiently.
- Long Blooming Period - It has a relatively long flowering period in the spring and early summer, offering prolonged periods of color.
- Versatility - It's suitable for rock gardens, slopes, and flower beds, providing flexibility in gardening and landscaping.
- Tolerance to Poor Soil - Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, including poor soils.
- Deer Resistant - The plant is not a preferred choice for deer, which can make it a good option in areas with large deer populations.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography Accent: Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' can be used to enhance garden photography due to its dense blooms, adding a lush background or foreground in springtime garden photos.
- Model Landscapes: Its compact growth habit makes it useful in creating realistic miniature landscapes or model railroads.
- Art Projects: The vibrant flowers can be pressed and used in creating natural art pieces or botanical prints.
- Educational Tool: In schools, it can serve as a hands-on tool for teaching children about plant growth cycles and pollination as they observe bees and butterflies visiting the flowers.
- Garden Borders: Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' is an excellent choice for creating defined edges in garden designs without the need for traditional hardscape edging materials.
- Memory Gardens: This plant, due to its resilient nature and delicate appearance, can be used in memory gardens as a living tribute to loved ones.
- Erosion Control: It can be effectively planted on slopes or banks to help prevent soil erosion while adding aesthetic value.
- Container Gardens: Its ability to spill over the edges of containers makes it an attractive addition to mixed potted arrangements on patios and balconies.
- Fairy Gardens: The plant's small scale and propensity to form a carpet of blooms can create enchanting settings for fairy gardens, enabling a magical ambiance.
- Seasonal Wreaths: Cuttings of Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' can be incorporated into spring wreaths for a fresh, seasonal decoration.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiMoss Phlox is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityMoss Phlox is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Harmony: Phlox, with its clustered flowers, symbolizes unity and harmonious blend, representing people coming together.
- Agreement: The name "Phlox" is derived from the Greek word for flame, which can be associated with the intense coloration of its flowers, symbolizing strong emotions like agreement or passion.
- Proposal: In the language of flowers, Phlox can sometimes be used to propose or express feelings of love due to its vibrant and attractive blooms.
- Sweet Dreams: The variety 'Amazing Grace' evokes a sense of tranquility and calm, often related to pleasant dreams and peaceful nights.
WaterWater Creeping Phlox moderately, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Typically, this means watering once every week or two, depending on weather conditions and soil drainage, with about one inch of water each time. In hot and dry conditions, you may need to water more frequently. Always check the top inch of the soil for moisture before watering. Overwatering can cause root rot, so it's important to ensure good drainage and not to let the plant sit in waterlogged soil.
LightCreeping Phlox thrives in full sun to partial shade, preferring a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Plant them in a spot where they can bask in the morning sun but are protected from the harsh, late afternoon sun if possible. They can tolerate a bit of shade, especially in hotter regions, but too much shade can lead to leggy plants and fewer blooms.
TemperatureCreeping Phlox is hardy and can withstand a range of temperatures, surviving winter lows down to -20°F. However, they flourish in temperatures between 60°F and 85°F during the growing season. They are versatile and once established, can tolerate occasional temperature spikes and dips.
PruningPrune Creeping Phlox after it blooms to maintain its shape and encourage a second bloom. Lightly trim back the foliage to promote denser growth and prevent the center of the plant from becoming woody and bare. The best time for pruning is late spring or early summer, just after the main flowering period.
CleaningAs needed
SoilCreeping Phlox thrives in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A good soil mix for 'Amazing Grace' is one part garden soil, one part compost, and one part perlite or coarse sand to ensure proper drainage. Regularly check the soil to maintain the appropriate pH level for optimal growth.
RepottingCreeping Phlox, including 'Amazing Grace', is a perennial plant that spreads out in the garden and typically does not require repotting. Instead, it can be divided every few years in spring or fall to manage its size and promote vigor.
Humidity & MistingCreeping Phlox, including the 'Amazing Grace' variety, is adaptable to a wide range of humidity conditions and does best in the outdoor environment where it can receive fresh air circulation, making specific indoor humidity less of a concern.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Creeping Phlox in bright light, well-draining soil, and water moderately.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, well-drained soil, and space 15-18 inches apart.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA
Life cyclePhlox subulata 'Amazing Grace', commonly known as Moss Phlox, begins its life cycle when seeds are sown in well-drained soil, typically in spring or autumn. The seeds germinate, and seedlings emerge with small, needle-like leaves characteristic of the species. As the plant grows, it forms a mat-like, spreading habit with stems that root at the nodes, allowing the plant to propagate vegetatively. In early to late spring, Moss Phlox produces a profusion of white flowers with a central eye of contrasting color, attracting pollinators to the garden. After flowering, the plant enters a period of vegetative growth, during which time it stores energy for the next flowering season. Finally, as temperatures decrease in autumn, the plant becomes dormant, conserving resources to survive the winter and resume its life cycle in the following spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Early Summer
The most popular method for propagating Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace', commonly known as Moss Phlox, is through stem cuttings. This is typically done in late spring or early summer, when the plant is actively growing. To propagate by cuttings, a gardener should select a healthy stem and cut a 4 to 6-inch (approximately 10 to 15 cm) length, making sure there are several leaf nodes present. The lower leaves are then removed, and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth. The cutting is then planted in a well-draining soil mixture and kept moist until roots develop, which usually takes a few weeks. During this period, the cuttings should be kept in a bright area with indirect sunlight to prevent them from drying out. Once the roots have established, the new plants can be transplanted to their desired location in the garden.
