Phlox divaricata Linnaeus. Common name: Eastern Blue Phlox, Timber Phlox. Phenology: Apr-Jun. Habitat: Moist deciduous forests in circumneutral soils. Distribution: Vermont and Québec west to Minnesota, south to e. North Carolina, Georgia, Panhandle Florida, and Texas.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: The species is often divided into two varieties or subspecies (see synonymy), with var. divaricata (with notched petal tips) more eastern and var. laphamii (with rounded petal tips) more western. Basionym: Phlox divaricata L. 1753
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to reclining perennial of moist deciduous forests in circumneutral soils; may form colonies through self-seeding.
Stems: Stems unbranched, hairy and often glandular-sticky; nonflowering stems sprawl on ground and root at nodes.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, narrowly lance-shaped to oval, 1-2 in. long, with both surfaces sparsely hairy and margins with small stiff hairs.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a loose, flattish terminal cluster; pale blue to lavender (can be red-purple) with darker eye; 3/4-1 in. wide; consisting of 5 somewhat spoon-shaped (narrow at base) lobes that flare abruptly outward from a hairless, narrow tube. The calyx consists of 5 glandular-hairy, purplish, very narrow sepals and 5 stamens are hidden inside the corolla tube.
Fruits: Fruit a oval capsule.
Comments: Flowers fragrant.
Height: to 20 in.
plant sale text: This early-flowering SE native is an excellent garden plant. Its panicles of fragrant pale blue to white flowers are plentiful in the spring and make great cut flowers. Eastern blue phlox is semi- evergreen and makes a fine edging or woodland groundcover. Often found growing in rich woods, this phlox self- sows to create impressive drifts. Try planting in combination with eastern columbine for a beautiful spring garden.
bloom table text: This native North Carolina perennial blooms April through June. It grows to twenty inches tall and produces clusters of purple-blue flowers that are quite fragrant and abundant. Phlox species have been extensively hybridized and are popular among gardeners because they spread very readily, forming a carpet of flowers in early spring. The name for this plant comes from the Greek word for "flame", which may refer to the torch-like shape of the buds. Eastern blue phlox is also known as wild sweet William.
description: Erect to reclining perennial of moist deciduous forests in circumneutral soils; may form colonies through self-seeding.
stems: Stems unbranched, hairy and often glandular-sticky; nonflowering stems sprawl on ground and root at nodes.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, narrowly lance-shaped to oval, 1-2 in. long, with both surfaces sparsely hairy and margins with small stiff hairs.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a loose, flattish terminal cluster; pale blue to lavender (can be red-purple) with darker eye; 3/4-1 in. wide; consisting of 5 somewhat spoon-shaped (narrow at base) lobes that flare abruptly outward from a hairless, narrow tube. The calyx consists of 5 glandular-hairy, purplish, very narrow sepals and 5 stamens are hidden inside the corolla tube.
fruits: Fruit a oval capsule.
comments: Flowers fragrant.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America