Phlox carolina Linnaeus. Common name: Carolina Phlox, Thick-leaf Phlox, Giant Phlox. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Forests, woodlands, woodland borders, barrens. Distribution: VA, WV, IL and MO south to s. GA, Panhandle FL, s. AL, s. MS, se. LA and e. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = G, RAB, S, W; > Phlox carolina L. ssp. alta Wherry — Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. ssp. angusta Wherry — Il, Tx, Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. ssp. carolina — Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. ssp. turritella Wherry — Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. var. angusta (Wherry) D.B.Ward — Ward (2012a); > Phlox carolina L. var. carolina — Ward (2012a); < Phlox glaberrima L. — C, Fl5, K4, WH3; < Phlox glaberrima L. ssp. interior (Wherry) Wherry — Mo3. Basionym: Phlox carolina L. 1762
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACW
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of forests, woodlands, woodland borders and barrens.
Stems: Stems unbranched and smooth to softly hairy.
Leaves: Leaves opposite (5-12 pairs), sessile, narrowly to widely lance-shaped, to 4 1/2 in. long, with smooth margins and smooth to slightly hairy surface.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a loose, somewhat cylindrical, terminal cluster; pink or magenta (rarely white); 1/2-1 in. wide; consisting of 5 corolla lobes that flare abruptly outward from a hairless, narrow tube and 5 slightly protruding stamens. The basically cylindric calyx consists of 5 lance-shaped sepals with overlapping margins.
Fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
Comments:
Height: to 3 ft.
plant sale text: Carolina Phlox is an excellent garden plant for butterflies and hummingbirds. Its preferred habitat is along woodland edges and openings. This phlox blooms during the hottest part of the summer and continues to bloom intermittently until frost It is also resistant to powdery mildew. Carolina phlox blooms mostly during the hottest part of the summer, occasionally continues until frost. Carolina phlox self- sows but is not aggressive.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of forests, woodlands, woodland borders and barrens.
stems: Stems unbranched and smooth to softly hairy.
leaves: Leaves opposite (5-12 pairs), sessile, narrowly to widely lance-shaped, to 4 1/2 in. long, with smooth margins and smooth to slightly hairy surface.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a loose, somewhat cylindrical, terminal cluster; pink or magenta (rarely white); 1/2-1 in. wide; consisting of 5 corolla lobes that flare abruptly outward from a hairless, narrow tube and 5 slightly protruding stamens. The basically cylindric calyx consists of 5 lance-shaped sepals with overlapping margins.
fruits: Fruit a rounded capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
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