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Phlox divaricata

Phonetic Spelling
floks dy-vair-ih-KAY-tuh
Description

Blue phlox is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Polemoniaceae family that may grow 6 to 12 inches high.  Clumping or spreading horizontally it is often found growing on the forest floors in eastern North America.  

Plant in partial to full shade in moist high organic material well-drained soils.  The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. Fine hairs extend from the leaf margin. The stem is both hairy and sticky. Rose, lavender or violet-blue fragrant flowers first mature in spring and continue into early summer.  

Some uses in the garden include rock gardens, border fronts, wild gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. The showy flowers attract pollinators making it an excellent addition to a butterfly bee garden.   It is also an effective, shallow-rooted cover for early spring bulbs.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Spider mites can also be a problem, particularly in hot, dry conditions.  Powdery mildew can be a serious problem. Cutting back stems after flowering helps combat mildew. Rabbits may eat the foliage.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Pollinator Garden at the Cabarrus County Extension Office Shaded Slope
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Blue Moon’
    Large blue flowers with wide petals.
  • 'Clouds of Perfume'
    lavender-blue flowers
  • 'Dirigo Ice'
    Pale blue flowers
  • 'Fuller's White'
    Pure white flowers
  • 'Louisiana'
    Purple-blue flowers with a reddish eye
  • 'Parksville Beach'
    Lavender-pink flowers
  • 'Tika'
    Lavender flowers
‘Blue Moon’, 'Clouds of Perfume', 'Dirigo Ice', 'Fuller's White', 'Louisiana', 'Parksville Beach', 'Tika'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#small spaces#native perennials#blue flowers#shade garden#fire low flammability#NC native#native garden#naturalizes#rock garden#border planting#slug resistant#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source spring#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#HS302#bee friendly#Audubon#rabbit browsing plant#herb garden#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • ‘Blue Moon’
    Large blue flowers with wide petals.
  • 'Clouds of Perfume'
    lavender-blue flowers
  • 'Dirigo Ice'
    Pale blue flowers
  • 'Fuller's White'
    Pure white flowers
  • 'Louisiana'
    Purple-blue flowers with a reddish eye
  • 'Parksville Beach'
    Lavender-pink flowers
  • 'Tika'
    Lavender flowers
‘Blue Moon’, 'Clouds of Perfume', 'Dirigo Ice', 'Fuller's White', 'Louisiana', 'Parksville Beach', 'Tika'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#small spaces#native perennials#blue flowers#shade garden#fire low flammability#NC native#native garden#naturalizes#rock garden#border planting#slug resistant#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source spring#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#butterfly friendly#Piedmont Mountains FACU#Coastal FACU#HS302#bee friendly#Audubon#rabbit browsing plant#herb garden#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phlox
    Species:
    divaricata
    Family:
    Polemoniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    southern Ontario to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Louisiana.
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Its flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, The foliage attracts rabbits.
    Play Value:
    Colorful
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    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)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit displays from March to July.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Blue phlox has loose clusters of slightly fragrant, tubular, lilac to rose to blue flowers (to 1.5" wide) with five, flat, wedge-shaped, notched, petal-like lobes that appear at the stem tips in spring. Its stamens are recessed. Stems are both hairy and sticky. The five petals are various shades of sky blue to violet. Flowers bloom from April to May.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Blue phlox has hairy, sticky lance-shaped to elliptic opposite leaves (to 2" long). They can form large colonies over time as leafy shoots spread along the ground rooting at the nodes.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Hairy and sticky
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Riparian
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Fire
    Slugs