Phlox subulata Linnaeus. Common name: Moss Phlox, Mountain-pink, Moss-pink. Phenology: Mar-May. Habitat: Dry and exposed rock outcrops, rocky flood-scoured riversides, dry woodlands over a wide variety of rocks, shale barrens. Distribution: NY and OH south to w. NC and TN; escaped or naturalized more widely from horticultural use.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: The infraspecific taxa that are sometimes recognized (see synonymy) seem poorly correlated with morphology and geography and are here synonymized pending further study.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W; > Phlox brittonii Small — S; > Phlox subulata L. ssp. australis (Wherry) Wherry — Wherry (1955); > Phlox subulata L. ssp. brittonii (Small) Wherry — Pa, Wherry (1955); > Phlox subulata L. ssp. setacea (L.) Locklear; > Phlox subulata L. ssp. subulata — NE, NY, Pa, Wherry (1955); > Phlox subulata L. var. australis Wherry — G; > Phlox subulata L. var. brittonii (Small) Wherry — F, WV; > Phlox subulata L. var. ciliata Wherry — G; > Phlox subulata L. var. setacea (L.) Brand — C; > Phlox subulata L. var. subulata — C, F, WV. Basionym: Phlox subulata L. 1753
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Spreading, mat-forming perennial of dry and exposed rock outcrops, rocky flood-scoured riversides, dry woodlands over a wide variety of rock types and shale barrens.
Stems: Stems semi-woody and freely branched.
Leaves: Leaves opposite or in clusters in the leaf nodes, sessile, linear to needle-like, to 3/4 in. long, semi-evergreen and stiff.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in multiple small, loose clusters; purple or pink (occasionally white) with a darker eye; 1/2-1 in. wide; consisting of 5 distinctly notched corolla lobes abruptly flaring outward from a hairy, narrow tube. The calyx consists of 5 glandular-hairy, narrow sepals and the 5 stamens barely protrude from the corolla tube.
Fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.
Comments: Flowers are fragrant.
Height: 3-9 in. (mats to 24 in. wide)
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Spreading, mat-forming perennial of dry and exposed rock outcrops, rocky flood-scoured riversides, dry woodlands over a wide variety of rock types and shale barrens.
stems: Stems semi-woody and freely branched.
leaves: Leaves opposite or in clusters in the leaf nodes, sessile, linear to needle-like, to 3/4 in. long, semi-evergreen and stiff.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in multiple small, loose clusters; purple or pink (occasionally white) with a darker eye; 1/2-1 in. wide; consisting of 5 distinctly notched corolla lobes abruptly flaring outward from a hairy, narrow tube. The calyx consists of 5 glandular-hairy, narrow sepals and the 5 stamens barely protrude from the corolla tube.
fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.
comments: Flowers are fragrant.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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