Thickleaf Phlox Phlox carolina
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Phlox carolina ssp. angusta
- Phonetic Spelling
- FLOCKS kair-oh-LEE-nah
- Description
-
Carolina Phlox, as the name suggests, is a flower native to the southeastern US. Its native habitat includes deciduous woods, forest edges, clearings, and roadsides. Its upright growth habit may reach 2-3 feet, blooming mostly during the hottest part of the summer in full sun, although it may rebloom intermittently until frost. Flower colors are in the cool range of lavender to pink or white, held in clusters at the top of stems. The wild species is resistant to powdery mildew.
Propagation is by division in fall or cuttings. It may reseed, but not aggressively.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kim'
Light pink flowers, light green leaves - 'Minnie Pearl'
White flowers - 'Miss Lingard'
White flowers
- 'Kim'
- 'Kim', 'Minnie Pearl', 'Miss Lingard'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kim'
Light pink flowers, light green leaves - 'Minnie Pearl'
White flowers - 'Miss Lingard'
White flowers
- 'Kim'
- 'Kim', 'Minnie Pearl', 'Miss Lingard'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phlox
- Species:
- carolina
- Family:
- Polemoniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern USA
- Distribution:
- SW Georgia to NE Texas, North to Maryland and SE Missouri
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are arranged in loose, broadly cylindrical clusters in a compact terminal inflorescence. The flowers are 0.5-0.75 in. with five rounded corolla lobes. They may rebloom in late summer/early fall. Flower generally blooms from May to July.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Carolina Phlox has tufted, minutely downy to hairy stems with 5-12 pairs of lance-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped leaves. The leaves are 1.5-4 in. long, bright-green, oval, and leathery.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are red-streaked and may appear singly or in clusters.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Heat
