Smooth Phlox Phlox glaberrima
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FLOCKS gla-ber-REE-muh
- Description
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Smooth Phlox is a clump-forming perennial native to Southeastern and Central US. In North Carolina, it can be found mainly in the Piedmont and mountains but also in a few coastal areas on stream and river banks, open bottomland forests, swamps, marshes, sedge meadows, and tallgrass prairies. The showy rose to purplish blooms appear in spring on tall panicles and attract pollinators. The deep green, narrow foliage is also attractive. Deadheading will help prolong blooming; it will otherwise self-seed. Rhizomes also help with the formation of colonies.
Smooth Phlox prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade and will need irrigation during dry spells. It can be used in borders, along ponds or streams as it is tolerant of soil moisture, in naturalized areas, or in native wildflower gardens. It has excellent resistance to powdery mildew and root rot.
It is a host plant for the larvae of the Spotted straw moth (Heliothis turbatus) which feed on the flowers, while larvae of the Olive arches moth (Lacinipolia olivacea) feed on its foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phlox
- Species:
- glaberrima
- Family:
- Polemoniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southeastern U.S.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OH , OK , SC , TN , VA , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Smooth phlox attracts butterflies including Monarchs, Swallowtails, and Sulfurs as well as the caterpillars of the Spotted Straw and Olive Arches moths. Syrphid flies may feed on the pollen. Hummingbirds may also drink the nectar. The leaves and stems are attractive to rabbits and groundhogs, and less frequently by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 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:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Narrow seed capsules contain many small seeds and display from June to July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Individual flowers are up to 1 inch across with 5 flat, rounded petals. The lower part of the corolla is fused into a narrow tube. Stamens are visible at the opening to the corolla tube. Blooming occurs for 6-8 weeks from late spring into summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are deep green, thick, glossy, with bluntly pointed tips, rounded at the base, and with a prominent central vein. They are very thin, hairless, and arranged in 10-20 opposite pairs along the stems. Lower leaves are either sessile or clasp the stem, while upper leaves are sessile.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
