Mountainside Crater Lake Phlox

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

4-6 Inches

Mature Spread

24-28 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 8

Mountainside ‘Crater Lake’ phlox creates a puddle of blue in the early season garden, a perfect compliment to tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs. New for 2021, ‘Crater Lake’ is a more refined spreader than some other spring phlox (P. subulata). It stays a bit tighter and closer to the ground. After about three years, it will spread to about 24 inches. Until then, it will be about 12 to 16 inches across. It’s 6 inches tall. ‘Majestic Magenta’ is the other color in the Mountainside spring phlox series.

Mountainside ‘Crater Lake’ spring phlox, a native perennial ground cover, is fragrant. This is a great plant for sunny areas with gritty, poor soil that has decent drainage. It won’t be happy in sopping wet soil. Good for a rock garden, as a front-of-the garden bed perennial or a ground cover with shrubs. Spring phlox may be semi-evergreen, depending on the climate. In a pot, it serves as a spiller. Transplant to the ground at the end of the season.

Mountainside Crater Lake Phlox Care

Spring phlox is very low maintenance. About the only task is shearing or cutting back the plant in early summer right after it is done blooming. This helps the plant develop more dense foliage and encourages reblooming. Divide every few years in summer.

Spring phlox is fairly drought tolerant. However, most plants benefit from watering during extended hot, dry spells. It is salt tolerant, making it a good choice for planting near pavement that is treated in winter with deicers. It can survive several days under snow, too.

Mountainside Crater Lake Phlox Spacing

In the landscape, space about 24 inches apart. They can be planted in a row or in a cluster of three Mountainside Crater Lake to create a lovely spot of color.