# prairie phlox (*Phlox pilosa*) Prairie phlox is a beautiful flower that blooms in shades of pink and purple. It loves sunny places and attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens colorful and lively. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![prairie phlox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phlox_pilosa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phlox_pilosa.jpg) ## Appearance The prairie phlox has clusters of star-shaped flowers, usually bright pink, purple, or white. Its fuzzy, narrow leaves grow opposite on hairy stems. Unlike garden phlox, it often appears more delicate and sparse in its native prairie habitat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Polemoniaceae - **Genus:** Phlox ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name "Phlox" comes from Greek, meaning "flame," for its bright colors! - Many types of phlox exist, but this one especially loves sunny, wide-open grasslands! - Some moths visit its flowers at night, drawn by its subtle, sweet fragrance! - These beautiful flowers often grow in huge, colorful patches across open prairies! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Beacon:** Prairie phlox uses sweet nectar and bright petals to guide long-tongued insects, ensuring its seeds are spread widely. - **Drought Survivor:** Prairie phlox has deep roots that help it find water, allowing it to survive dry periods in its sunny, open grassland home. - **Fuzzy Defense:** Its fuzzy stems and leaves may deter some hungry herbivores, making it less appealing for a quick snack. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Mid-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*) — Visits for nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — A frequent visitor for nectar - **Eaten by:** Gorgone Checkerspot (*Chlosyne gorgone*) — Larvae feed on leaves ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify prairie 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 prairie phlox? 30-60 cm ### How wide does prairie phlox spread? 30-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on prairie phlox? 1-2 cm ### When does prairie phlox bloom? Late Spring to Mid-Summer ### Is prairie phlox edible? No ### Is prairie phlox toxic? None ### What is prairie phlox's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-valley-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [Gensburg-Markham Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gensburg-markham-prairie) — Illinois, US · Nature Reserve - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-earth-rettenmund-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Haight Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haight-village-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Morton Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morton-arboretum) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see prairie phlox](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/prairie-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: [Prairie Phlox: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prairie-phlox)