Blue Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Also known as Blue Woodland Phlox, Woodland Phlox, Forest Phlox
Climate Match for your location
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Blue phlox is a spring-blooming woodland perennial with fragrant lavender-blue flowers and a low, spreading habit. It thrives in partial shade and moist soil, making it ideal for naturalizing in shade gardens or woodland edges.
Why grow it
Blue phlox offers earlier spring color than many shade perennials, often blooming in mid to late spring before woodland canopy fully leafs out. Compared to creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), which prefers dry, sunny sites, blue phlox fills the niche of moist, shaded areas and reaches greater height (12-15 inches), making it useful for layering woodland plantings. Its fragrance and low-growing character suit naturalizing in rain gardens or along shaded borders where moisture persists through spring.
Watch out for
While reasonably adaptable, blue phlox can become leggy or sparse if light is too limited or soil dries excessively in summer after blooming ends. Powdery mildew occasionally affects foliage in humid conditions with poor air circulation, though this typically occurs late in the season and does not threaten plant survival. Regular deadheading can extend a modest secondary bloom but is not essential for plant health.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polemoniaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Blue phlox is a spring-blooming woodland perennial with fragrant lavender-blue flowers and a low, spreading habit. It thrives in partial shade and moist soil, making it ideal for naturalizing in shade gardens or woodland edges.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Blue Phlox grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Blue phlox offers earlier spring color than many shade perennials, often blooming in mid to late spring before woodland canopy fully leafs out. Compared to creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), which prefers dry, sunny sites, blue phlox fills the niche of moist, shaded areas and reaches greater height (12-15 inches), making it useful for layering woodland plantings. Its fragrance and low-growing character suit naturalizing in rain gardens or along shaded borders where moisture persists through spring.
Watch out for
While reasonably adaptable, blue phlox can become leggy or sparse if light is too limited or soil dries excessively in summer after blooming ends. Powdery mildew occasionally affects foliage in humid conditions with poor air circulation, though this typically occurs late in the season and does not threaten plant survival. Regular deadheading can extend a modest secondary bloom but is not essential for plant health.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Polemoniaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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