Species prairie phlox
purple, star-like flowers with purple-green, hairy sepals, and leaves

prairie phlox

Phlox pilosa

Prairie Phlox is a wildflower native to North America. It has beautiful, fragrant, tubular pink-purple blooms from May to August. Its small, upright mound of hairy leaves forms branched stems that bear several flower clusters. It easily adapts to full sun or partial shade and can tolerate sandy, dry soils. Prairie Phlox can be used to attract beneficial insects and butterflies to your garden and also provides a stunning display of color. Its resilience makes it ideal for home gardeners.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 9

Flowers:

Pink to pale purple Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Low

watering

Prairie Phlox should be watered twice a week and about an inch of water should be applied each time. Water should be applied to the ground around the base of the plant instead of directly to the plant itself. During hot and dry periods, the plant may need to be watered more often. It is best to water the plant in the morning or evening, when the sun’s rays are not directly on the plant.

sunlight

Prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa) is a sun-loving plant species native to the central and eastern USA. It thrives best in sunny, well-drained, and warm soil conditions. The ideal amount of sunlight for prairie phlox is between 8 and 10 hours per day. During the spring and summer months, prairie phlox should receive full sun throughout the day. On the other hand, during the fall and winter months, a few hours of morning sun is sufficient.

pruning

Prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa) should be pruned in mid to late spring. When pruning, it’s important to only take off a small portion of the plant. Be sure to remove and discard any dead or diseased portions of the plant. When pruning, make sure to remove no more than 1-third of the total height of the plant, as pruning too much can harm the plant or even lead to death. Additionally, take care to not remove any of the flower buds, as this will harm the plant's flower production. After pruning, it’s essential to keep the plant well-watered.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Prairie phlox typically starts flowering in April or May.

Hardiness Map