1/10
Creeping Phlox
For sunny areas with well-drained soil, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) covers the ground while only growing 4 to 6 inches tall. Best in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, it provides a bright spot in mid-spring, and produces colorful flowers in shades of pink, white and purple. Once established, creeping phlox tolerates drought. Space plants about 12 inches apart and use a mulch to keep weeds at bay until it covers the ground.
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Hardy Plumbago
Hardy plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), sometimes called leadwort, forms a mat over the ground by spreading via rhizomes, aka underground stems. Plant where it gets some sun in the morning and shade during the hottest parts of the day.
Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, it prefers well-drained soil. In zone 5, it may need mulch to overwinter successfully. In late summer and early fall, it shows deep blue flowers on 8- to 12-inch-tall stems, and the foliage turns orange-red in the fall.
