Downy phlox
Phlox pilosa
Polemoniaceae


Landscape Uses:

Wildflower gardens, borders.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Perennial up to 2 feet tall with sticky hairs covering the stems and leaves. Pink to dark lavender flowers 1 inch wide in terminal clusters.
Height:
Typically two feet in height, twice as wide as tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Central and southern United States south to Hillsborough, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia counties.
Habitats:
Dry hammocks.
Soils:
Dry to moist, well-drained limestone or sandy soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Pink to dark lavender.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Wildlife and Ecology:
Attracts pollinators.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.


Floyd Griffith, 2023.
Floyd Griffith, 2023.
Floyd Griffith, 2023.