Botanical Name: Phlox subulata ‘Purple Beauty’

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, Dense, 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: Rich Purple-Lavender Flowers, Evergreen Needle-Like Foliage, Heavy Flower Coverage, Excellent Groundcover, Deer Resistant

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

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

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

More About Phlox subulata ‘Purple Beauty’

Phlox subulata ‘Purple Beauty’ is one of the most visually commanding Creeping Phlox varieties, valued for its deep purple-lavender blooms that create a bold, saturated carpet of color in early Spring. When in peak bloom, flowers are so dense they nearly eliminate visible foliage, producing a dramatic, high-impact display that reads clearly even from a distance. This variety excels when massed, where its color intensity delivers immediate seasonal presence and anchors Spring landscapes with confidence.

After flowering, ‘Purple Beauty’ remains attractive thanks to its dense, evergreen, needle-like foliage, which forms a tight, uniform mat throughout the year. The growth habit is controlled yet spreading, making it ideal for stabilizing slopes, softening stonework, and creating clean edges along pathways and garden borders. Even out of bloom, the foliage maintains structure and texture, ensuring the plant continues to contribute visually well beyond Spring.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Purple Beauty’ has consistently stood out for its vigor, flower density, and long-term reliability. It thrives in full sun with minimal care and performs exceptionally well in poor, rocky, or fast-draining soils where other perennials struggle to establish. Once established, it shows excellent drought tolerance and holds its form without thinning or opening up over time.

We especially value its ability to deliver strong color year after year without becoming aggressive or unruly. Combined with its natural deer resistance and dependable bloom window, ‘Purple Beauty’ has proven to be one of the most effective options for gardeners who want bold Spring impact without added maintenance.

Purple Beauty vs. Other Creeping Phlox

Purple Beauty delivers far more color intensity compared to Amazing Grace, which trades soft elegance for bold, saturated purple that reads from a distance. Purple Beauty is warmer, richer, and more dramatic than Emerald Pink, which is cooler and calmer in tone. Purple Beauty is the strongest choice when bold color is the priority.

Compared to Spring® Scarlet, Purple Beauty is less fiery but more versatile, pairing more easily with a wider range of companion plants. And next to Candy Stripe, Purple Beauty offers a cleaner, more uniform look, whereas Candy Stripe prioritizes novelty and contrast. For gardeners looking for bold, dependable spring color that reads clean and cohesive across larger plantings, Purple Beauty is the clear choice.