Wild Blue Phlox
(Phlox divaricata)
Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
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Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago
Public Domain
Image By:
Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago
Recorded By:
Copyright:
Public Domain
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago | License Type: Public Domain | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ | Rights Holder: Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-04-19T18:26:43-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Phlox divaricata, commonly known as Wild Blue Phlox, is a semi-deciduous perennial herb native to rich deciduous woodlands, forest clearings, and along stream banks in the Central and Eastern United States. It typically grows to 25–50 cm (10–20 in) tall and features opposite, unstalked, hairy leaves that are 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in length and ovate-lanceolate in shape. The flowers, which are highly fragrant and showy, appear in late spring to early summer and are 2–4 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) in diameter. Each flower has five petals fused at the base into a thin tube, presenting in shades of blue-lavender, light purple, pink, or white. Cultivars like ’Blue Moon’, ’Clouds of Perfume’, and ’White Perfume’ offer gardeners a variety of colors to choose from.
Wild Blue Phlox is valued for its sweet fragrance and the carpet of color it provides when in bloom. It is often used in woodland gardens, shaded borders, and naturalized areas. This plant thrives in part shade to full shade, prefers medium moisture, and adapts to a range of soil types, though it flourishes in rich, well-drained soils. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and should be spaced properly to ensure good air circulation. The cultivar ’Chattahoochee’, with its lavender flowers, has also received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its exceptional performance in gardens.CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild Blue Phlox is valued for its sweet fragrance and the carpet of color it provides when in bloom. It is often used in woodland gardens, shaded borders, and naturalized areas. This plant thrives in part shade to full shade, prefers medium moisture, and adapts to a range of soil types, though it flourishes in rich, well-drained soils. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and should be spaced properly to ensure good air circulation. The cultivar ’Chattahoochee’, with its lavender flowers, has also received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its exceptional performance in gardens.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-1.5 feet
- Width: 0.8-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Blue, Pink, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Semi-Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Fragrant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Rich deciduous woodlands, forest clearings, and along stream banks
Other Names
Common Names: Forest Phlox, Blue Phlox, Wild Sweet-William, Louisiana Phlox, Woodland Phlox, Wild Sweet William, Woodland Phlox, Phloce Divariqué, Phlox Divariqué, Blåflox
Scientific Names: , Phlox divaricata, Phlox divaricata var. divaricata, Phlox divaricata f. albiflora, Phlox divaricata f. bicolor, Phlox glomerata, Phlox divaricata f. divaricata,
GBIF Accepted Name: Phlox divaricata L.