Botanical Name: Phlox subulata ‘Drummond’s Pink’ 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: Bright Rose-Pink Flowers, Evergreen Needle-Like Foliage, Excellent Groundcover, Deer Resistant Uses: Slopes, Rock Gardens, Borders, Edging, Groundcover, Walls & Pathways

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

More About Phlox subulata ‘Drummond’s Pink’

Phlox subulata ‘Drummond’s Pink’ is a classic, time-tested creeping phlox known for its vivid rose-pink flowers that create a bold carpet of color in early spring. When in full bloom, plants are completely covered in flowers, delivering one of the most striking spring groundcover displays available.

After flowering, the plant’s evergreen, needle-like foliage remains attractive year-round, providing texture and structure even when not in bloom. It spreads steadily to form a dense mat without becoming aggressive.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Drummond’s Pink’ has been an extremely reliable performer, thriving in full sun, heat, and well-drained soils with very little maintenance. It excels on slopes and in rocky or sandy areas where drainage is excellent.

We especially appreciate its intense spring color. Among pink creeping phlox varieties, this one consistently delivers strong saturation and uniform bloom coverage.

Drummond’s Pink vs. Other Creeping Phlox

Drummond’s Pink takes a more relaxed, traditional approach to spring color, offering a soft, medium pink that feels natural rather than highly refined or bred for intensity. Where Purple Beauty and Spring® Scarlet are designed to command attention, Drummond’s Pink blends quietly into the landscape, creating an easy, informal look that feels at home in established gardens. Compared to the tighter, more uniform Emerald Pink, its growth and color read looser and more organic, which many gardeners associate with classic, time-tested groundcovers.

When placed alongside Spring® Scarlet, Drummond’s Pink avoids the sharp contrast and visual heat of red tones, allowing it to mix effortlessly with bulbs, perennials, and early shrubs. And compared to Candy Stripe, it skips novelty and pattern in favor of consistency and familiarity. For gardeners who value a natural, lived-in garden feel and want creeping phlox that settles in gracefully rather than standing out, Drummond’s Pink remains a dependable and enduring choice.