![[]](phlox_stolonifera200.jpg)
Phlox stolonifera carpets the earth in a particularly colorless
area in my shade borders. During the several weeks that it's in bloom,
the brilliant clouds of magenta light up the woods. In the wild, her
flower color can be very variable, from white to a light violet blue to a
deep cerise and every shade in betwixt and between. My chosen selection
(shown) falls somewhere in the middle of that
grand color scheme. There are also several named cultivars.
Phlox stolonifera is native to 12 states in the Eastern US -
primarily in the Appalachian Mountains.
And Phlox stolonifera is one of the most reliable, attractive and
utilitarian groundcovers you can use in your garden in a plethora of
settings and conditions. The specific epithet (the second word in a
scientific plant name, which usually describes a trait of that plant)
refers to the fact that it produces stolons. Stolons are similar to
normal stems except they produce adventitious roots and normally run
horizontally to the soil surface, instead of up into the air. They also
have long internodes with reduced leaves. Plants with stolons are
referred to as stoloniferous and root along the ground as they grow. I've
successfully grown this plant in deep shade and in full sun, and it
doesn't appear to have any particular soil type preference either. How
much easier could a plant get!
I somewhat hesitate to saddle Phlox stolonifera with the moniker
of "groundcover", as that distinction may limit its imaginative
use in a wider variety of situations. It certainly looks great as an
accent plant and as a medium height edging plant. Hardiness range is USDA
zones 4-9 and my best guess would push that a zone in each direction. In
foliage, the height is about 6" tall, add another 6" when in
flower.
I don't like to clutter my emails with too many images and I decided to
use a closeup of Phlox stolonifera here. I'd like you to see how
great it looks in a garden setting, so I've chose a few images for you to
look at. Here's one in one a backyard garden growing with Cypripedium
calceolus and Trillium grandiflorum -
http://www.npsnj.org/images/c_calceolus_2.jpg Magnar Aspaker even
grows Phlox stolonifera in his garden in Norway
http://magnar.aspaker.no/Phlox%20stolonifera.jpg
So there you have it, a great plant that will grow well in just about any
garden in any just about any locale.
I've a good stock of flowering age plants in 2" pots that are ready
to take flight in your garden and I've saved some for you. Check out the
very reasonable prices below.
The prices shown below include FREE SHIPPING on bareroot plants out of their 2" pots. If you would like to receive the plants undisturbed, in their pots, please add .95¢ per plant to cover the extra cost of shipping soil and pots.
7 for $ 35.00 delivered ($5.00 ea)
10 for $ 45.00 delivered ($4.50 ea)
15 for $ 60.00 delivered ($4.00 ea)
20 for $ 70.00 delivered ($3.50 ea)
50 for $150.00 delivered ($3.00 ea)
Larger quantities at even lower prices upon request
Ordering couldn't be easier! Just download
and print our order form and send it with your check to:
Internet Order Department
Sunshine Farm & Gardens
HC 67 Box 539 B
Renick WV 24966 USA
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