Phlox x ‘Violet Pinwheels’ is a long blooming native hybrid covered with rich purple flowers from mid-to-late spring. The notched upturned petals shimmer like tiny pinwheels in the spring air, harmonizing beautifully with spring blooms and attracting pollinators. With evergreen needle-like foliage, this low-growing perennial behaves like Creeping Phlox, but with more intense flowering. A hybrid of two western native Phlox species, this is a resilient groundcover for Western gardens.

Description

Phlox x ‘Violet Pinwheels’ is an early blooming evergreen perennial, with blooms lasting for up to 6 weeks. Requiring a full sun location and average soil, it needs moderate water to establish; thereafter it is a hardy, waterwise plant. Perfect for rock gardens or slopes where it can help stabilize soil, it covers ground beautifully. Attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies it provides much-needed early food sources for pollinators. A perfect pairing to create a carpet of color beneath spring blooming bulbs such as Crocus, Tulips, Daffodils, and Snowdrops. This North American native hybrid was developed by Dr. Jim Ault at Chicago Botanic Garden as a cross between Phlox bifida, or Sand Phlox, and Phlox kelseyi, a mat-forming western Phlox. This Phlox is lower-growing and slower to spread compared to classic Creeping Phlox varieties such as ‘Purple Beauty’ or ‘Blue Emerald’.