Summary ²

Phlox divaricata, the wild blue phlox, woodland phlox, or wild sweet william, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to forests and fields in eastern North America.

Description ³

Family:
Polemoniaceae (Phlox)

Height:
10 to 18 inches

Leaves:
Lance-shaped leaves (up to 3 inches long) are oppositely arranged on stem. Leaves are slightly hairy and have a smooth edge.

Flower:
Violet, blue, or white flowers with 5 petals that fuse together at the base, grow up to 1 inch wide

Bloom time:
April-June

Nicknames:
Woodland Phlox, Blue Wood Phlox

Habitat:
Deciduous woodlands

Wildlife Benefits:
Flowers are attractive to bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Can I plant this in my garden?
Wild blue phlox prefers shady areas and soils that are rich in organic materials.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/wild-blue-phlox
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wood_phlox.html

Range ³

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
2. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlox_divaricata
3. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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