Downy Phlox Phlox pilosa
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Downy Phlox:
- Phonetic Spelling
- FLAH-ks pil-OH-suh
- Description
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Downy phlox is a long blooming herbaceous perennial typically found it in rocky or dry open woods, valleys, thickets, meadows, prairies, and glades. The specific epithet pilosa means hairy and refers to the soft white hairs on the stems, leaves, and corolla tubes and the common name of downy phlox. The flowers are showy pale pink to lavender, fragrant, and extremely attractive to butterflies. Its rhizomes form clumps that allow it to spread easily., requiring a medium amount of maintenance to prevent it from spreading into unwanted areas.
This plant is excellent for sunny locations, in rock gardens, cottage gardens, wild gardens, native plant gardens, or prairie-type areas. It is tolerant of dry soil but a summer mulch is recommended to keep the root zone cool. It has no serious insect or disease problems although hot, dry conditions can promote spider mite infestations. It has resistance to powdery mildew.
The USDA currently lists nine different subspecies for this plant (deamii, detonsa, fulgida, latisepala, ozarkana, pilosa, pulcherima, riparia and sangamonensis) each occupying a different portion of the distribution range. Phlox pilosa ssp. pilosa is native to North Carolina Piedmont and Coastal Plain and is distinguished from the other subspecies by glandular hairs in the inflorescence.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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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
