# Phlox (*Phlox divaricata*) Phlox is a beautiful flowering plant with clusters of colorful blossoms. It attracts butterflies and bees with its sweet scent and vibrant colors, making gardens look like a rainbow. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 23 - **Habitat:** Gardens, Forests - **Also known as:** Wild Phlox, Woodland Phlox ![Phlox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phlox_divaricata_Ohio_2016.JPG&width=800) Photo: Wilson44691, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phlox_divaricata_Ohio_2016.JPG) ## Appearance The Phlox has clusters of delicate, five-petaled, star-shaped flowers that bloom in vibrant shades of pink, purple, blue, and white. Its slender stems bear narrow, lance-shaped leaves, creating a soft, colorful display in gardens and woodlands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Polemoniaceae - **Genus:** Phlox ## Interesting facts - Many wild Phlox species are native to North America, thriving in woodlands and meadows! - Some Phlox flowers glow under UV light, making them even more visible to insect pollinators! - The name "Phlox" comes from a Greek word meaning "flame," referring to some species' fiery colors! - Tiny hummingbirds love to sip sweet nectar from the tall, colorful flowers of garden phlox. ## Special abilities - **Scented Welcome:** Phlox can release a sweet fragrance, often at dusk, to attract nocturnal moths and other insects for pollination. - **Color Compass:** Phlox has vibrant, diverse flower colors that act as visual signals, guiding various daytime pollinators to its nectar. - **Ground Cover Growth:** Some Phlox can spread by creeping stems, allowing them to form dense mats which helps them outcompete weeds and cover ground. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to late Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — A crucial nectar source for these large, colorful butterflies. - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bees visit Phlox flowers to collect vital nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — Attracted to the fragrant flowers, especially active at dusk. ## Traits - [Perennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/perennial): Perennial plants live for more than two years, typically returning to grow and bloom each year from their roots. - [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. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy the beauty of phlox from a safe distance and avoid touching or eating any part of the plant. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Phlox? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Phlox? 30-120 cm ### How wide does Phlox spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on Phlox? 1-3 cm ### When does Phlox bloom? Spring to late Summer ### Is Phlox edible? No ### Is Phlox toxic? None ### What is Phlox's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve - [Hidden Lake Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hidden-lake-gardens) — Michigan, US · Botanical Garden - [Minnesota Landscape Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-landscape-arboretum) — Minnesota, US · Botanical Garden - [Salem Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/salem-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Bernheim Forest and Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bernheim-forest-and-arboretum) — Kentucky, US · Botanical Garden - [Bickelhaupt Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bickelhaupt-arboretum) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Phlox](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/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: [Phlox: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/phlox)