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Pine Phlox Phlox nivalis

Phonetic Spelling
FLAH-ks niv-VAL-us
Description

This native perennial does well in the mountains, piedmont, and coastal plains of North Carolina. It flourishes in hot, well-drained sites, especially in the sandhill and dry habitats of central North and South Carolina. It has a tight 6 inch-tall evergreen mat of shiny, stiff,  needle-like foliage with showy pink flowers that appear for a few weeks in spring.

Trailing Phlox is a tough and hardy groundcover that is different from other species of Phlox in that it is semi-woody.and favors more acidic soil.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Snowdrift
    White flowers
Snowdrift
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#lawn alternative#woody#spring flowers#slopes#stream banks#mounding#edging#NC native#well-drained soil#spreading#trailing#shiny#native garden#groundcover#rock garden#spring interest#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source spring#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#sandy soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Audubon#container plant#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Snowdrift
    White flowers
Snowdrift
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#lawn alternative#woody#spring flowers#slopes#stream banks#mounding#edging#NC native#well-drained soil#spreading#trailing#shiny#native garden#groundcover#rock garden#spring interest#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source spring#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#sandy soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#Audubon#container plant#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phlox
    Species:
    nivalis
    Family:
    Polemoniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts hummingbirds
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Defines Paths
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 3 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Spreading
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    a three-valved, three-chambered, egg-shaped capsule with one to three, relatively large (to 6 mm long), ellipsoid seeds per chamber
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Purple to pink or nearly white flowers, with a darker colored tube and center, radially symmetric, with a slender tube, and abruptly spreading lobes.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    It has a tight 6 inch-tall evergreen mat of shiny needle-like foliage.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The sterile stems are trailing, decumbent, finely glandular-hairy, and somewhat woody, while the flowering shoots are more erect.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat