Phlox divaricata

Phlox divaricata

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Polemoniaceae
Genus:	Phlox
Species:	P. divaricata
Binomial name
*Phlox divaricata* L.

Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox, woodland phlox, wild sweet william) is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to forests and fields in eastern North America.

Etymology

The specific epithet divaricata means "with a spreading and straggling habit".^[1]

Description

Wild blue phlox is a semi-evergreen perennial growing 25–50 cm (10–20 in) tall with opposite, unstalked, hairy leaves 2.5–5 cm in length and ovate-lanceolate in shape. Flowers appear in early summer and are 2–4 cm in diameter, with five petals fused at the base into a thin tube.^[2] The petals are a variety of pastel colors: blue-lavender, light purple, pink, or white.

There are two subspecies: ssp. divaricata, with petals notched at the tip, and ssp. laphamii, without a notch.

Flowers of Phlox divaricata ssp. divaricata, with notched ends to the petals
A blue form of Phlox divaricata ssp. divaricata
Flowers of Phlox divaricata ssp. laphamii, without notches on the end of the petals
Large clump of Phlox divaricata ssp. laphamii
Habitat in Florida

Cultivars

'Chattahoochee', a cultivar of Phlox divaricata ssp. laphamii

Cultivated varieties have various colours, including blue ('Blue Moon'), lavender ('Clouds of Perfume') and white ('Fuller's White', 'White Perfume'). The cultivar 'Chattahoochee' (lavender) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[3]

References

↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
↑ [Phlox divaricata subsp. laphamii 'Chattahoochee' AGM "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox divaricata subsp. laphamii 'Chattahoochee'"] Check |url= value (help). Retrieved 25 May 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phlox divaricata.

Wikispecies has information related to: Phlox divaricata

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