THESE pretty low-growing plants provide rockeries and scree beds with plenty of colour at this time of year thanks to their pink, blue and white flowers which tumble over walls or create flat carpets of blooms. They are easy to grow and will last a few years if given a little TLC.

The most popular variety is the carpeting P. subulata (moss phlox), which grows to just 9cm tall and spreads around 45cm, flowering in April and May.

Phlox thrives in any well-drained, moisture-retentive soil in full sun.