General Culture:

Best grown in humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers rich, organic soils with continuous, even moisture. Appreciates a light summer mulch which helps retain moisture and keep roots cool. If soils dry out, foliage decline will occur and plants may go into dormancy. Self-seeds in optimum growing conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Woodland phlox is a spreading, Missouri-native, spring wildflower which forms mats of foliage with stems typically reaching 12-15" tall. As the common name suggests, this is a woodland variety which occurs in rich woods, fields and along streams throughout the state of Missouri. Loose clusters of fragrant, tubular, blue-violet flowers (to 1.5" wide) with five, flat, petal-like lobes appear at the stem tips in spring. Stems are both hairy and sticky. Lance-shaped to elliptic leaves (to 2" long). Can form large colonies over time as the leafy shoots spread along the ground rooting at the nodes. Phlox divaricata (see E580) is common throughout eastern North America east of the State of Missouri, but P. d. var. laphamii is the common form in Missouri. Var. laphamii is primarily distinguished from the species by having darker blue flowers with unnotched petals.