Blue phlox is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Polemoniaceae family that may grow 6 to 12 inches high. Clumping or spreading horizontally it is often found growing on the forest floors in eastern North America. Plant in partial to full shade in moist high organic material well-drained soils. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. Fine hairs extend from the leaf margin. The stem is both hairy and sticky. Rose, lavender or violet-blue fragrant flowers first mature in spring and continue into early summer. Some uses in the garden include rock gardens, border fronts, wild gardens, native plant gardens or naturalized areas. The showy flowers attract pollinators making it an excellent addition to a butterfly bee garden. It is also an effective, shallow-rooted cover for early spring bulbs. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites can also be a problem, particularly in hot, dry conditions. Powdery mildew can be a serious problem. Cutting back stems after flowering helps combat mildew. Rabbits may eat the foliage. More information on Phlox .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Horizontal; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Blue phlox has hairy, sticky lance-shaped to elliptic opposite leaves (to 2" long). They can form large colonies over time as leafy shoots spread along the ground rooting at the nodes.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Blue phlox has loose clusters of slightly fragrant, tubular, lilac to rose to blue flowers (to 1.5" wide) with five, flat, wedge-shaped, notched, petal-like lobes that appear at the stem tips in spring. Its stamens are recessed. Stems are both hairy and sticky. The five petals are various shades of sky blue to violet. Flowers bloom from April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruit displays from March to July.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Hairy and sticky
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
southern Ontario to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Louisiana.
Wildlife value
Its flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, The foliage attracts rabbits.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Small Mammals
Play value
Colorful; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Riparian; Slope/Bank; Small Space
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden