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Polemoniaceae
Phlox

not marked as a favorite taxon Phlox carolina Linnaeus. Common name: Carolina Phlox, Thick-leaf Phlox, Giant Phlox. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Forests, woodlands, woodland borders, barrens. Distribution: Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri south to s. Georgia, Panhandle Florida, s. Alabama, s. Mississippi, se. Louisiana and e. Texas.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = G, RAB, S, W; > Phlox carolina L. ssp. alta Wherry — K1, Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. ssp. angusta Wherry — Il, K1, Tx, Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. ssp. carolina — K1, Wherry (1955); > Phlox carolina L. ssp. turritella Wherry — K1, 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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image #1 of Phlox carolina© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Phlox carolina© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Phlox carolina© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Phlox carolina© Brian Keener, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Brian Keener source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Phlox carolina© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Phlox carolina© Eric Ungberg, all rights reserved, uploaded by Eric Ungberg source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Phlox carolina© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Phlox carolina© Brian Keener, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Brian Keener source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Phlox carolina© jtuttle, all rights reserved, uploaded by jtuttle source | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Phlox carolina© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Phlox carolina© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Phlox carolina© Joey Santore, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joey Santore source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Phlox carolina© Eric Keith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric Keith source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Phlox carolina© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Phlox carolina© Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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