Phlox subulata 'Spring white'

Perennial of the Polemoniaceae family, this cultivar of Phlox subulata shares the North American origin of the species, naturally established on rocky outcrops and dry slopes of the eastern United States. 'Spring White' is a white-flowered cultivar regularly offered in specialized European horticultural trade, although its documentation in major reference floras remains limited.

It forms a sprawling and dense cushion, 8 to 12 cm in height when in bloom, with a well-filled habit. The persistent subulate foliage is a bright vivid green, more distinctly green than in some other cultivars of the species, which enhances the contrast with the whiteness of the flowers.

The flowers are pure white, without any perceptible pink or cream hue, with a small discreet yellow-orange central eye that constitutes the only point of color. The petals are wide, slightly wavy and distinctly notched at their tip. Carried in generous numbers above the foliage, the flowers almost entirely cover the cushion at full bloom, barely allowing the green of the leaves to show.

In its natural habitat, the species blooms from April to June. In cultivation, 'Spring White' generally blooms in April-May. It requires full sun, well-drained soil, poor to moderately fertile, and does not tolerate stagnant moisture in winter.