Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FLOCKS dy-vair-ih-KAY-tuh
- Description
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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:
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- ‘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 - 'May Breeze'
White Flowers - 'Parksville Beach'
Lavender-pink flowers - 'Tika'
Lavender flowers
- ‘Blue Moon’
- ‘Blue Moon’, 'Clouds of Perfume', 'Dirigo Ice', 'Fuller's White', 'Louisiana', 'May Breeze', 'Parksville Beach', 'Tika'
- Tags:
- 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 - 'May Breeze'
White Flowers - 'Parksville Beach'
Lavender-pink flowers - 'Tika'
Lavender flowers
- ‘Blue Moon’
- ‘Blue Moon’, 'Clouds of Perfume', 'Dirigo Ice', 'Fuller's White', 'Louisiana', 'May Breeze', 'Parksville Beach', 'Tika'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays from March to July.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy and sticky
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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
