Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida

Native

Dry. Upland woods, pine barrens, and prairies.

April to June

White, pink to pale purple, or lavender

6″ to 24″

This is a 6″ to 24″ tall, erect, perennial forb that rises on a single flowering stem and usually one or more non-flowering stems from a taproot. It often forms clumps.

Flowering stems are unbranched below the inflorescence, and are covered with fine white hairs that are not sticky. Non-flowering stems are similar but smaller, and are erect or ascending.

The leaves are opposite, stalkless, linear to lance-shaped, 1″ to 3″ long, untoothed, and very narrow. They are rounded at the base and taper to a sharp, hardened tip.

The inflorescence is a flat-topped or round-topped, loosely branched cluster of 20 to 50 or more flowers at the end of the stem. The calyx is covered with fine, shiny or glossy hairs.

The flowers are ½″ to ¾″ wide. They have 5 white, pink to pale purple, or occasionally lavender, petals. The petals unite at the base forming a long, thin corolla tube, then separate into 5 long, widely spreading lobes. The petal lobes are inversely egg-shaped, tapering gradually to the throat. The petal lobes are not notched at the tip. The stamens are visible at the opening of the corolla tube but do not extend beyond the tube.

The fruit is a 3-chambered, egg-shaped capsule with usually 1, rarely 2, seeds per chamber.

Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata ssp. laphamii) has wider leaves that do not narrow to a sharp, hardened tip. The petal lobes abruptly narrow before the throat. The stamens are not visible at the opening of the corolla tube.

Wild sweet William (Phlox maculata) has an unbranched, cylinder-shaped inflorescence.

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) is a tall, cultivated plant that can get to six feet tall.

Moss phlox (Phlox subulata ssp. subulata) is a prostrate ground cover with whorled, linear to awl-shaped leaves. The flower petals are notched at the tip. It is found in rocky areas and sandy or gravelly soil.

Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is much taller, has alternate, toothed leaves, and has flowers with four petals.