Phlox longifolia / longleaf phlox
- white or pink to almost rose flowers
- blooms in spring, sometimes through to August
- common on disturbed and undisturbed sites
Phlox longifolia is a cheerful harbinger of spring and a welcome site in the backcountry, along the “thousands” and fractions thereof (East, West, North and South) or in the swale between 33 and the bike path. It is at home in a ruderal setting as well as on the hill sides. And for some reason, it was maddeningly difficult to figure out the first few months I saw it. All the phloxes in wildflower books pretty much looked the same. I had to ask a “real botanist” what it was.
Flowers in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae) come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes but generally have a flower tube, created by the fusion of the five petals and sepals. This is visible in one of the gallery photos.
The distinguishing feature of this species is that it has longer leaves and less clustered flowers than other species… I hate comparatives of that sort, but there you go. If all else fails, simply call it “phlox”.
| Family | |
|---|---|
| Color | |
| Blossom size | |
| Inflorescence size | |
| When? | |
| Where? |
