Moss phlox or creeping phlox is a native, evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial that is part of the phlox family. It forms low, mat-like ground cover up to 6 inches tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet wide, resembling moss. From April to May, fragrant tubular flowers with five notched lobes bloom in shades of pink, purple, and white, offering many pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds a sweet treat of nectar and pollen.

The leaves are needlelike, linear to awl-shaped, and arranged in dense, opposite pairs along the stems. They are evergreen to semi-evergreen, with entire (toothless) margins, and are typically stalkless or clasping. Their sharp tips and compact tufts give the plant its moss-like texture.

Moss phlox thrives in full sun, though it tolerates partial shade in hot, humid climates. It prefers well-drained, sandy or rocky soils that are slightly acidic to neutral in pH, but it can adapt to dry and hot environments once established. Native to the central and eastern regions of Canada and the United States, including most of Pennsylvania, it thrives on dry slopes, rocky barrens, and open woodlands, especially in the Appalachian Mountains.