Phlox pilosa

Common Names

Prairie Phlox, Downy Phlox, Fragrant Phlox

Summary

Prairie Phlox is a native herbaceous perennial of eastern North America that forms upright clumps about 6–24 inches tall, stems and leaves are densely hairy with narrow opposite leaves, flowers are pink to pale purple, five-lobed with a long tube, arranged in rounded clusters atop the stems and in upper leaf axils, and are fragrant, attracting butterflies and long-tongued bees, it grows best in full sun to partial shade on moist but well-drained soils, tolerating sand, loam, and chalk with pH from neutral to alkaline, including acidic, it spreads by rhizomes to form clumps and is easily grown from seed, use in prairie plantings, wildflower meadows, cottage and informal gardens, rock and gravel gardens, and wildlife-friendly landscapes, it is generally pest- and disease-free with good resistance to powdery mildew and hardy in USDA zones 4–9

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-24 inches

Spread

12-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun, tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, fertile soil, typically sandy loam to clay loam, including sand, loam, or chalk soils

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Pink to purple, including pale pink to lavender

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth, 2–5 years to reach ultimate height, spreads quickly via stolons forming large colonies.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators