Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Creeping Phlox 'Blue Ridge' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Creeping Phlox, Woodland Phlox, Stoloniferous Phlox (Phlox stolonifera).

More about creeping phlox 'blue ridge'

About Creeping Phlox 'Blue Ridge'

Phlox stolonifera · also called Creeping Phlox, Woodland Phlox · flowering

A low, mat-forming shade-tolerant phlox from the eastern US woodlands, bearing lavender-blue flowers in spring on trailing stolons. 'Blue Ridge' is valued for ground cover under trees and on slopes. It is mildly toxic to dogs and cats according to ASPCA guidance on Phlox species.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Sparse flowering: Usually caused by too much shade or insufficient nutrients; relocate to a brighter spot or feed in early spring.

The reasons creeping phlox 'blue ridge' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming creeping phlox 'blue ridge' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding creeping phlox 'blue ridge' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get creeping phlox 'blue ridge' to flower

Maximise sun. Give creeping phlox 'blue ridge' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for creeping phlox 'blue ridge' and get the feeding right with the creeping phlox 'blue ridge' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Creeping Phlox 'Blue Ridge' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full creeping phlox 'blue ridge' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Creeping Phlox 'Blue Ridge' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my creeping phlox 'blue ridge' flower?

Creeping Phlox 'Blue Ridge' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make creeping phlox 'blue ridge' bloom?

Give creeping phlox 'blue ridge' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does creeping phlox 'blue ridge' normally bloom?