# Spiny Phlox (*phlox hoodii*)

The Spiny Phlox is a beautiful flowering plant that loves to grow in rocky places! Its colorful blooms attract butterflies and other friendly insects.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Spiny Phlox lives in dry, rocky areas, often found in sandy soils and open grasslands.
- **Also known as:** Hood's Phlox, Rock Phlox

![Spiny Phlox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phlox_hoodii_7762.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phlox_hoodii_7762.JPG)

## Appearance

The Spiny Phlox is a low-growing, mat-forming plant with stiff, needle-like leaves, often tipped with a tiny spine. It produces clusters of small, five-petaled flowers, typically in shades of white, pink, lavender, or light blue, creating a vibrant cushion of color.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ericales
- **Family:** Polemoniaceae
- **Genus:** Phlox

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, 'hoodii', honors a brave explorer of North America.
- Many small insects find shelter from predators by hiding within its dense, cushiony growth.
- Spiny Phlox often blooms in cool mountain areas right after the snow melts!
- This tiny plant can create a huge, colorful carpet across vast landscapes!

## Special abilities

- **Spiny Shield:** Spiny Phlox has stiff, needle-like leaves that help it deter hungry animals and reduce water loss in dry places.
- **Cushion Crafter:** Spiny Phlox can grow in dense, mat-like cushions that help trap moisture and protect its roots from harsh winds.
- **Drought Defender:** Spiny Phlox has deep roots and small, tough leaves that help it survive in very dry, rocky environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-15 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer (April-July)
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-Form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Green-veined White](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-veined-white) (*Pieris napi*) — Butterfly drinks nectar from blossoms.
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Grazes on young shoots and flowers.
- **Eaten by:** Montane Vole (*Microtus montanus*) — Feeds on leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [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.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Spiny 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 Spiny Phlox?

5-15 cm

### How wide does Spiny Phlox spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Spiny Phlox?

1-2 cm

### When does Spiny Phlox bloom?

Spring to early Summer (April-July)

### Is Spiny Phlox edible?

No

### Is Spiny Phlox toxic?

None

### What is Spiny Phlox's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cora](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cora) — Wyoming, US · Neighborhood
- [Scotts Bluff National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/scotts-bluff-national-monument) — Nebraska, US · National Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Spiny Phlox: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spiny-phlox)