Botanical Name: Phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’

Common Name: Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 3–9

Size: 4–6" Tall × 18–24" Spread

Growth Habit: Low-Growing, Mat-Forming, Spreading Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Sandy or Rocky Conditions

Water Needs: Low Once Established; Drought Tolerant

Bloom Season: Early to Mid Spring

Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Fertility

Features: Pink-and-White Striped Flowers, Evergreen Needle-Like Foliage, Excellent Groundcover, Deer Resistant

Uses: Slopes, Rock Gardens, Borders, Edging, Groundcover, Walls & Pathway

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

See our complete Creeping Phlox Plant Guide for full care details.

More About Phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’

If there was one variety of Creeping Phlox that could make you smile from across the garden, it’s Phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’. Those pink and white striped blooms look just like old-fashioned peppermint candy scattered across the landscape. When it hits peak bloom in early Spring, it doesn’t just flower, it explodes into color. The foliage practically disappears under that blanket of cheerful blossoms, turning slopes and borders into a living quilt of pink swirls. From a distance, it almost looks like someone draped a pastel patchwork blanket across the ground.

What I love most is that it isn’t flashy in a loud way, but rather it’s charming, sweet, and classic. It gives you that nostalgic cottage garden feel, like something you’d see spilling over a stone wall in the mountains. When it’s not in bloom, the fine, needle-like evergreen foliage keeps things tidy and textured year-round. It hugs the ground tightly, forming a dense mat that slowly spreads to fill in space without ever becoming a bully in the garden. Even in Winter, that low evergreen texture provides structure and keeps beds from looking bare or forgotten.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trial beds, ‘Candy Stripe’ has proven to be one of those steady, reliable performers you can count on every Spring. Give it full sun and sharp drainage, and it rewards you year after year with the same dependable show. It especially shines on slopes, retaining walls, and rocky areas where water drains quickly,  places where many other perennials struggle. I’ve planted it in tough spots with thin soil, and it still settles in and thrives without constant attention.

I also appreciate how tough it is. Deer tend to pass it by, which around here is no small thing. When most of the garden is just waking up, ‘Candy Stripe’ is already stealing the spotlight. It really sets the tone for the entire season, and that’s exactly the kind of energy I like starting the year with in the garden. When customers see it blooming in our trial beds, it’s always one of the first plants they ask about.

Candy Stripe vs. Other Creeping Phlox

Candy Stripe stands apart for its playful pink-and-white striped blooms, prioritizing pattern and contrast over solid color saturation. Compared to Purple Beauty, Candy Stripe feels lighter and more decorative, making it less dominant but more visually expressive. Candy Stripe is the strongest choice when novelty and visual interest are the main goals.

When contrasted with Amazing Grace, Candy Stripe is busier and more ornamental, while Amazing Grace remains calm and classic. Next to Emerald Pink, Candy Stripe trades uniformity for personality, making it better suited for focal areas, smaller plantings, or spots where visual interest and pattern are meant to stand out rather than blend seamlessly into the landscape.