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A hard-to-find beauty native to the wildlands of southern Idaho, this is a small growing groundcover phlox. In early spring, the plants bloom with large bi-colored blue and lavender flowers for nearly a month. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low
temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
If the coldest winter temperature expected in your area is -15°F (zone 5) then any plants rated zones 3-5 will
survive the winter temperatures in your area.
If you live in very warm winter areas (zones 9-11) plants with zones 3-4 ratings are not recommended. The lack
of freezing winter temperatures do not provide a time for winter dormancy (rest).
1" tall x 5-8" wide (cutting propagated). You'll marvel at the beauty 'Lemhi Purple' brings to early spring in the xeric garden. The remarkably large, bi-colored blue and lavender flowers cover the plants for nearly a month in early spring. When blooming is done, 'Lemhi Purple's tight mat of gray-green foliage looks nice year round. It's small enough to tuck around many other smaller growing xeric plants. Along with Phlox grayi, this is another indispensible western native Phlox that need a place in every xeriscape. Originally discovered growing in Lemhi Co., Idaho.
More Information
SKU
HC014684
Item Package Size
Plant - 2.5" Pot
Common Name
Lemhi Purple Creeping Phlox
Botanical Name
Phlox kelseyi Lemhi Purple
Zones
4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Requirements
Full Sun
Flower Color
Blue, Purple
Mature Height
1" tall
Mature Spread
5-8" wide
Bloom Time
Early to mid spring
Ships As
Potted Plant
Evergreen Foliage
Yes
Soil Type
Low Fertility Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Soil Moisture
Waterwise
Advantages
Attract Butterflies, Deer Resistant, Native, Great For Mass Plantings, Evergreen, Fragrant Flower / Foliage, Good Rockgarden Or Alpine Plant
Ideal Region
West, Western Only, Southwest, Pacific Northwest
Planting Time
Spring / Summer, Fall
Native To
North America
Ships To Canada
No
Planting Guides
Phlox (tall and groundcover types) Phlox are generally sun-loving native plants that attract butterflies. Many phlox varieties are wonderfully fragrant.
Phlox can be divided into two groups;
Phlox paniculata (Tall garden phlox)
Groundcover types (Phlox nana, P. kelseyi, P. subulata and others)
Phlox paniculata (Tall Garden Phlox) - tall, showy perennials blooming in mid-summer with fragrant flowers.
Preferred growing conditions:
Grows best in compost enriched garden loam. Avoid heavy, wet soils and clay.
Likes to be mulched to keep soil more evenly moist. Most common mulching materials are fine.
Likes to grow in soil that stays evenly moist.
Plant in full sun
Enrich the soil at planting time with good quality compost and Yum Yum Mix.
Special comments:
Phlox can sometimes be troubled by powdery mildew, but planting mildew-resistant varieties, keeping the soil evenly moist and not watering overhead in the afternoon/evening will prevent most outbreaks.
Deadhead to prolong blooming.
These perennials appreciate yearly fall applications of Yum Yum Mix and compost to improve the humus content and enhance water-holding capacity of the soil.
2. Phlox nana, P. kelseyi, P. subulata and others (Groundcover Phlox) These perennial species are low growing and are used as groundcovers. Some are evergreen and most have fragrant flowers.
Preferred growing conditions:
These species grow in a wide range of soil types including clay.
Most of these groundcover varieties prefer coarse-textured mulches like pine needles, crushed nut shells and crushed gravel.
Many of the groundcover phlox are xeric and only need periodic deep watering during summer heat.
Plant in hot, full sun areas.
They only need modest soil improvement, so use a few handfuls of Yum Yum Mix and good quality compost to prepare the soil for planting.
Special comments:
These are low-care perennials that need little attention once established.
Garden care:
Cut back herbaceous species like Phlox nana in mid-spring. Evergreen types like P. subulata and P. kelseyi need no trimming or cutting back.
Fertilize once in the fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II.
View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.
Shipping
No longer available this season.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and spring-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
Perennials and spring-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone. Perennial and spring-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (800) 925-9387 or contact us by email.
Shipping Rates
Our shipping rates are calculated based on our actual average shipping costs. We do not seek to profit from shipping fees, so rest assured that our shipping rates reflect an average of what it costs to get our guaranteed products safely to your door.
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Canadian Shipping Charges
Merchandise
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$39.95
We charge one low flat rate for shipping our products even if your order requires multiple shipments. If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 925-9387.
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