Petals at Your Feet

For amazing flowers that form a carpet of color, you can't beat moss pink.

The blooms appeared in the gray twilight season between winter and the first hopes of spring. A normally unnoticed gully that I passed every day on my way to school transformed into a blanket of pink flowers. They were undoubtedly the most beautiful sight my 6-year-old eyes had ever beheld. Though I'd like to think my tastes have matured, I still haven't outgrown my fondness for this head-turning member of the phlox family. Dazzling pink will always be the color of spring for me.

My mother taught me the name her mother knew for this plant: thrift. You'll probably find it under its other common name, moss pink. If you're not sure what to get, just check the plant tag for the botanical name. While there are flocks of phlox out there, the one you are after for knock'em-dead color is Phlox subulata.

Moss pink lives a clandestine life, masquerading as a quiet little ground cover 49 weeks of the year. But for three weeks in early spring, when azalea blossoms are still huddled in their buds, moss pink lets it all hang out. Clusters of bright stars scatter across the foliage until plants are covered with a mat of flowers.

Moss pink has its own place in the garden. Rocky banks and hillsides are excellent locations, as long as they're in the sun. Downhill drainage leaves the tops of slopes dry, just the way this plant likes it. Slanting soil and low retaining walls are ideal for displaying spreads of flowers. Fine needle-like foliage stays green in all seasons, adding a low cushion of leaves to whatever the plant happens to creep over.

If eye-popping pink isn't your style, you've also got your choice of red, white, or blue: 'Red Wings,' 'White Delight,' and 'Blue Emerald.' The third selection adds an Eastery shade of lavender to your garden.

Plant moss pink in spring when it's commonly sold, and you can choose the color you like best. Space plants in 1-gallon containers about a foot apart; smaller plants should be placed slightly closer together. JO KELLUM

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved