Question: Will creeping Phlox do well in a shaded location? My elm trees shade the bed where I want to plant some perennials that would do well. Can you suggest something else that would be more satisfactory? KL, Kansas.
Answer: Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) is quite versatile and will bloom under somewhat variable conditions. While it does best in full sun, it will do reasonably well in the shade if it is not too heavy.
Other low plants that might consider in this location include:
- Phlox divaricata
- Arabis alpinus (white rock cress)
- Campanula carpatica (canterbury bells)
- Iberis (hardy candytuft)
- Myosotis (forget-me-not)
- Cerastium tomentosum (snow in summer)
- Plumbago (leadwort)
Shade from the midday sun of Kansas will be beneficial to most rock garden plants but avoid dense, all-day shade.