Wild blue phlox is native to eastern North America. It is found in forests and fields.
Several cultivars have been created. These plants can form large colonies, and are
sometimes used as ground cover. They spread by seed, and they are also stoloniferous,
forming plant colonies.
Plants: 10-20″ (25-50 cm) in size, with
hairy, sticky, decumbent stems.
Leaves: Opposite, hairy, up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) × ¾″ (1.9 cm), ovate-lanceolate.
Leaves attach directly to, or even slightly clasp, stems.
Flowers: Flowers, occurring in clusters, are slightly fragrant,
¾-1″ (2-3 cm) in diameter, comprised of five petals fused at the base
into a thin tube. They may be lavender, light purple, blue, pink, or white, appearing Apr-May. If the petals are notched
at the tips, you’re looking at Phlox divaricata ssp. divaricata; if not, it is P. divaricata ssp. laphamii.
Fruits: Ovoid seed capsules about ⅛″ (4 mm) long contain several small seeds.