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Vick, Albert F. W.

Phlox divaricata L.

Wild blue phlox, Louisiana phlox, Blue woodland phlox, Sweet william

Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)

USDA Symbol: phdi5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The decumbent stem of wild blue phlox roots at the nodes sending up erect branches 8-18 in. Loose, flat clusters of fragrant, lavender or pink flowers with notched petals occur at the top of these stems. The leaves on decumbent stems are broader than those on flowering stems. A loose cluster of slightly fragrant, light blue flowers tops a somewhat sticky stem that produces leafy, creeping shoots at the base.

This beautiful species is most common in midwestern woods and fields. It is sometimes known as Wild Sweet William, a name also given to P. maculata. The mature plants in the eastern part of the range have notched petals; those in the western do not. The basal runners of the lovely Creeping Phlox (P. stolonifera) form large patches; it has fewer stem leaves and fewer flowers in its clusters; it occurs from Pennsylvania and Ohio south to northern Georgia.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Size Class: 0-1 ft.
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: 8 to 18 inches
Leaf Color: Green
Flower Size: up to 1 inch across

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Normally blue, lavender, or white.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: S.w. Que. to MI, s. to NC & AL
Native Habitat: Moist, rich, deciduous woods and bluffs
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2) , Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Rich, moist, acid soils, but also found in calcareous areas. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, attractive, colorful blooms for the perennial garden.
Use Wildlife: Flowers attract butterflies, including swallowtails, gray hairstreaks, and western pygmy blues. Roots consumed by rabbits and voles.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Root Division
Description: Propagate by root division, seed, layering, or softwood cuttings (rooted stem) taken in late spring.
Seed Collection: Mature in late spring.
Seed Treatment: Cold-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Remove spent blossoms, Prevent complete soil dryness, Fertilize in spring with rose food if soil isnt rich enough.
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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Phlox divaricata (Wild blue phlox) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Aegopodium podagraria (bishop's goutweed)

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: I have several acres of wooded land in Northeast Texas, Southern Lamar County. Both sandy and black land. I have created trails through the woods and would like to plant a native ground cover or grass to keep the trails from being too muddy. The trails are mostly shaded. I want a hardy, low maintence cover. Any suggestions?
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: Hello, I am looking for a recommendation for a Michigan native groundcover. I live adjacent to the Rouge River watershed and want to buy the right thing. The location is shady, infrequently walked upon and under cedar trees. I am desperately trying to control the erosion in this location. Any ideas on plant materials?
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Amandas Garden - Springwater, NY
Enchanter's Garden - Hinton, WV

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Dale Groom's Texas Gardening Guide (2002) Groom, D.
Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski and Wasowski
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Phlox divaricata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Phlox divaricata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Phlox divaricata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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