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FIRST IMPRESSIONS:  Phlox pilosa is a diminutive perennial wildflower with narrow pubescent leaves.  In late spring and early summer, foliage is topped by loose clusters of showy lavender to bright pink flowers.  Plants thrive in moist prairie type habitats or sunny gardens with average well drained soil.

HABITAT & HARDINESS:  Phlox pilosa occurs in eastern North America in Manitoba and Ontario, from New York to Florida and west to North Dakota and Texas.

This species is indigenous to longleaf pine, black oak or bur oak savannas, moist or mesic Blackland prairies, limestone glades, barrens, rock outcrops, rocky open woods, roadside prairie remnants, thickets, sand hills, old fields and railroad right-of-ways.  Plants thrive in sites that are regularly burned and decline in sites with thick vegetation and accumulated debris.

Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 4-9.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:  Phlox pilosa is an erect tap-rooted perennial with slender unbranched green or purplish downy stems.

Leaves are opposite, linear or lance shaped and edged with fine hairs. Blades average 2” long and ½” wide. They are pubescent and sessile with rounded bases and pointed tips.

Leaves and stems are often sticky to the touch due to the presence of glandular hairs.

The stems terminate in loose dome shaped flower cymes.  The florets are salverform with a long narrow tube that flares into 5 flat angular petals.

Bright pink, lavender or occasionally white flowers appear in late spring and early summer for 4-6 weeks.  Each fragrant floret often has a dark colored eye surrounded by a ring of dark spots.

After flowering small inconspicuous oval capsules appear.

Plants grow 1-2’ tall with a 1’ spread.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Phlox pilosa flourishes in sun or part sun with moist or mesic soil.  Plants tolerate clay loam, sandy loam, rocky or gravelly soil, alkaline or acid pH and heat.

This phlox is very resistant to foliar disease like powdery mildew.

The lower leaves often yellow and fall off when plants are stressed.  It is also common for plants to become dormant and temporarily disappear during summer drought.

Phlox pilosa thrives in sites that are managed with controlled burning.

LANDSCAPE USES:  This is a good choice for a Wildlife Garden or sunny Meadow. Plants are also used as Butterfly Nectar Plants or as part of a Grouping or Mass Planting.  Phlox pilosa has Showy Blooms and is appropriate for Cottage Gardens, Low Maintenance Plantings, Rock Gardens and Perennial Borders.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:  Try pairing Phlox pilosa with Asclepias tuberosa, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Carex bicknellii, Echinacea purpurea, Panicum virgatum, Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Schizachyrium scoparium or Sorghastrum nutans.

Phlox glaberrima ‘Morris Berd’ has similar appearance and culture and could be substituted in some garden situations.

TRIVIA:   Phlox comes from a Greek word meaning “flame” probably because of the intensely colored flowers. The specific epithet is from the Latin word pilosus meaning “soft” or “hairy” for the downy leaves and stems.

The USDA lists nine Phlox pilosa subspecies including deamii, detonsa, fulgida, latisepala, ozarkana, pilosa, pulcherima, riparia and sangamonensis.

Long tongued bees, butterflies (American Painted Lady, Sulfur and Swallowtail), skippers, moths and hummingbirds seek nectar and pollen from the flowers.  Plants host caterpillars of several moths and foliage is browsed by rabbits, deer and other mammals.