I love spring. Plants are waking up. Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) is blooming in the woods right now. It produces a delicate beautiful blueish purple flower. Read on to learn more about this pretty native plant.

Physical Characteristics of Wild Blue Phlox

The flowers are blue to violet to purple. This seems to be dependent on where they are growing, so maybe the soil composition. They also fade with age.

Native phlox has 5 petals.

Clusters of flowers sit on top of tall, slender stems, covered with fine hairs.

The plant grows 8 to 18 inches tall.

The flowers are mildly fragrant.

Leaves are lance shaped.

Where and How Does Wild Blue Phlox Grow?

Wild Blue Phlox likes shade to partial shade. It grows in the same area as bluebells. In the spring, together they color the forest floor.

This plant likes a rich moist, well-drained soil.

Phlox spreads by extending rhizomes. Stems grow underground over large areas and extend shoots up. As a result, this growing pattern forms large mats of phlox.

The showy flowers attract butterflies and birds; however deer are not interested.

 

Learn More

Read more about native wild phlox at the Loudoun Wildlife Conservatory  and  Virginia Wildflowers.

 

Purchasing Phlox

Phlox can be purchased for home gardens. It comes in many varieties and colors. Learn more about purchasing phlox for your garden from Proven Winners

and Bluestone Perennials. These growers provide a wealth of information to help you chose the right plant for your garden.