Downy Phlox Phlox pilosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FLOCKS pi-LOH-suh
- Description
-
Downy phlox is a long-blooming, herbaceous perennial wildflower in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae). It is native to North America. The specific epithet pilosa means hairy and refers to the soft white hairs on the stems, leaves and corolla tubes.
Downy phlox grows in full sun to partial shade and in most soil types. It is tolerant of dry soil but a summer mulch is recommended to keep the root zone cool. Its rhizomes form clumps that allow it to spread easily, growing 1 to 2 feet tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. Only a medium amount of maintenance is required to prevent it from spreading into unwanted areas. Propagate through stem or root cuttings or by seed.
The flowers are showy pale pink to lavender, fragrant and extremely attractive to butterflies. There are nine subspecies of this species. Phlox pilosa ssp. pilosa is widespread and the only one native to North Carolina's Piedmont and coastal plain. It is distinguished from the other subspecies by glandular hairs in the inflorescence.
Downy phlox is excellent for sunny meadows or woodland areas. Use it also in small drifts in rock, cottage, butterfly, pollinator, native or drought-tolerant gardens.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Downy phlox has no serious insect or disease problems although hot, dry conditions can promote spider mite infestations. It has resistance to powdery mildew.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phlox
- Species:
- pilosa
- Family:
- Polemoniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Meskwaki Indians used an infusion of leaves to cure and purify the blood, and as a wash for eczema. They also used a compound containing the root used as a 'love medicine'.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Connecticut south to Florida, west to eastern North Dakota, south to Oklahoma and Texas and to the Coahuila state of Mexico
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and Cloudwing skippers. Bees include bumblebees, Anthophorine bees, little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), and green metallic bees (Agapostemon spp.) Butterflies include American Painted Lady, Sulfur, and Swallowtail butterflies, Rabbits, deer, and groundhogs will eat the foliage.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
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
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- 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:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Papery, oval 1/8 inch seed capsule which breaks into 3 sections and will split open when dry and explosively discharge the seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Each fragrant, tubular, pink to pale purple flowers (to 3/4” diameter) has a long corolla tube and five flat petal-like lobes. Corolla tubes are often covered with soft white hairs, (pilosa means soft-hairy). Florets are loosely packed in rounded terminal clusters (cymes). Downy phlox blooms May to July with occasional rebloom in the fall.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, widely-spaced, sharp-pointed, stalkless, deep green, with prominent central veins and often finely pubescent. The lower leaves are linear, while the upper leaves are lanceolate.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
