Phlox subulata Spring Scarlet (Dophlosprisca) spreads into a low evergreen mat about 10 to 15 centimetres high and 30 to 45 centimetres wide. Fine, opposite, awl-shaped leaves create a dark green carpet beneath dense rosy-red flowers.
Loose clusters of fragrant tubular blooms open through spring and into early summer. Each flower has five notched lobes and a darker eye. Butterflies visit the flowers, while the trailing growth covers bare soil and softens the front of a border or rock garden.
Plant it in full sun or light afternoon shade in sandy, gravelly, or loamy soil that drains freely. Water during establishment, then allow the surface to dry between waterings. Cut stems back by half after flowering to keep the mat dense.
