Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Emerald Blue moss phlox, Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue').

More about phlox subulata 'emerald blue'

About Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue'

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' · also called Emerald Blue moss phlox, Creeping phlox · flowering

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' is a low, evergreen creeping phlox that smothers itself in lavender-blue, star-shaped flowers in mid to late spring over needle-like green foliage. Mat-forming and drought-tolerant once established, it excels on banks, rock gardens, wall tops and as ground cover, knitting into a dense weed-suppressing carpet in full sun.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Bare, woody centres: Mats can die out in the middle and at the base over time; shear back hard right after flowering to encourage dense, fresh regrowth.

The reasons phlox subulata 'emerald blue' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming phlox subulata 'emerald blue' 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 phlox subulata 'emerald blue' 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 phlox subulata 'emerald blue' to flower

Maximise sun. Give phlox subulata 'emerald blue' 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 phlox subulata 'emerald blue' and get the feeding right with the phlox subulata 'emerald blue' 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

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' 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 phlox subulata 'emerald blue' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my phlox subulata 'emerald blue' flower?

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' 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 phlox subulata 'emerald blue' bloom?

Give phlox subulata 'emerald blue' 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 phlox subulata 'emerald blue' normally bloom?