# fall phlox (*Phlox paniculata*) Fall phlox is a colorful flower that blooms in late summer and fall. It has lovely clusters of star-shaped flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making gardens bright and cheerful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Gardens ![fall phlox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Phlox_paniculata_famous_light_purple_-_Les_Martels%252C_Giroussens_Tarn.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Phlox_paniculata_famous_light_purple_-_Les_Martels%252C_Giroussens_Tarn.jpg) ## Appearance The fall phlox has large, showy clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that bloom in vibrant shades of pink, purple, white, or red. Its sturdy, upright stems are topped with these fragrant flower heads, creating a striking burst of color in late summer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Polemoniaceae - **Genus:** Phlox ## Interesting facts - Butterflies love to land on its flat clusters to sip sweet nectar! - Each tiny, star-shaped flower has five petals joined at the bottom. - The name "Phlox" means "flame" in Greek, describing its bright colors! - Wild phlox helps feed insects and hummingbirds when other flowers fade. ## Special abilities - **Fragrant Beacon:** Fall phlox has a sweet, strong scent that helps it attract butterflies and moths from afar for pollination. - **Nectar Nook:** Its dense flower clusters provide many tiny tubes of nectar, giving pollinators a rewarding feeding spot. - **Sun Spire:** Fall phlox grows tall with sturdy stems, helping its flowers reach for maximum sunlight to power its blooms. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 60-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — sips nectar, helping spread pollen - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects pollen and nectar - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on its leaves and flowers - **Pollinates:** Hummingbird Moth (*Hemaris thysbe*) — hovers to drink nectar ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before picking flowers to keep nature safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fall phlox? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is fall phlox? 60-150 cm ### How wide does fall phlox spread? 60-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on fall phlox? 2-3 cm ### When does fall phlox bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is fall phlox edible? No ### Is fall phlox toxic? Mild ### What is fall phlox's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [University City](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/university-city) — Pennsylvania, US · Campus - [Mattatuck State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mattatuck-state-forest) — Connecticut, US · Forest - [Sperryville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sperryville-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District [View all places to see fall phlox](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fall-phlox) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Fall Phlox: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fall-phlox)