How come my creeping phlox are not creeping?

[Kahana-ri]

I planted phlox in my flower bed and it has yet to creep or flower anything. They look little mini shrubs just sitting there. Needless to say I am no so happy seeing my mini bushes where I thought I would have beautiful flowery ground cover.

 

[PrincessMommyof2]

Dunno. Are you sure that you bought creeping phlox and not just regular phlox? How long has it been in the ground?

 

[Kahana-ri]

Well, the tags said 'creeping' phlox. I planted them in April/May. I am assuming regular phlox don't 'creep. Great-I must have impostor phlox.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I waas told that mulch would keep it from spreading much.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Do you have the area heavily mulched? Is there landscape fabric? I wouldn't expect any "creeping" from them until after they're done flowering, then they'll likely put on some green growth all around. Usually a plant will put its energy either into flowering, or root/top growth, but commonly will not do both at the same time. Give it time, and throw a little compost around it to give it a boost.

 

[dlfan1313]

The "creeping" will more than likely not begin until next spring as the plant is stressed and focusing energy on establishing roots. I know that my phlox that have been in the same area for 3 years are just now starting to bloom so you may yet get some flowers this year. If you bought them at Lowes or Home Depot instead of a nursery it is very likey that they were forced to bloom out of cycle in order to make them sell faster. If this is the case it can sometimes take a couple of years for the plants bloom predictably. If the foliage looks healthy a little shot of a low nitrogen fertilizer might help get some flowers out for you.

 

[rockyroad]

Here anyway, creeping phlox blooms very early in the spring only-about the same time as the redbud trees bloom.
But it is lovely when it blooms.
Are you concerned that it is not spreading or not blooming?

http://www.lewisgardens.com/creephlox.htm

 

[Kahana-ri]

The phlox just look like little shrubs. Very healthy and green, and since I have written the OP, I can see the may be creeping a bit. I guess I will have to wait until next spring for blooms?