Meadow Phlox is a native perennial wildflower found in moist woodlands and open areas in the central and southeastern U.S.A. In NC, it is found in the Piedmont and mountain areas. During the summer it blooms with large clusters of pink, purple or white flowers. The stems are spotted with purple. Meadow Phlox prefers full sun to light shade, moist conditions, and soil containing silt, loam, or sandy loam. Sufficient organic material to help retain moisture and mulch around the roots is advisable. This plant is not drought tolerant and will need supplemental water in dry conditions. After flowering, it tends to die down. In suboptimal conditions, it may be short-lived but in good conditions, it will self-seed and spread to form colonies. Deadheading can extend the blooming season and prevent unwanted seedlings. From summer to fall, pinkish-purple flowers are densely arranged in large, cylindrical, terminal clusters up to 8 inches long. This phlox looks great in a cottage garden, as well as naturalized areas, and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This phlox has better mildew resistance than P. paniculata but it needs good air circulation and overhead watering should be avoided. Root rot and spider mites can be an issue. 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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Pyramidal; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Denticulate; Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery; Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark shiny green leaves are opposite, sessile, 2½-4" long and ½-¾" across, lanceolate in shape with smooth or finely toothed margins. They have wide bases with long slender sharply pointed tips. They are rounded at the base and have no petioles.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The 1/2 inch tubular, 5-lobed, pinkish-purple flowers have long corolla tubes and are densely arranged in large, cylindrical, terminal clusters up to 8 inches long.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/3 inch oval seed capsules are 3-celled and each cell contains one or more seeds.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Smooth round green stems with numerous red/purple spots, usually unbranched.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , VT , WV
Wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. Songbirds will eat the seeds.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
Infusion of root used as a wash by the Cherokees to make children grow and fatten.