Phlox subulata

Phlox subulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Polemoniaceae
Genus:	Phlox
Species:	P. subulata
Binomial name
	Phlox subulata; L.

Phlox subulata in an ornamental planting beneath a cherry tree at Yachounomori Garden in Annaka, Gunma

Phlox subulata^[1] the creeping phlox, moss phlox,^[2] moss pink or mountain phlox, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to eastern and central USA, and widely cultivated. Growing to about 13 cm (5 in) high at most and covering a 50 cm (20 in) wide area, it is an evergreen perennial forming mats or cushions of hairy, linear leaves. The small, five-petaled flowers bloom in rose, mauve, blue, white, or pink in late spring to early summer.^[3]

The Latin specific epithet subulata means awl- or needle-shaped.^[4]

The odor given off by the plants may be mistaken for that of marijuana.^[5]

The plant is cultivated as a front-of-border or groundcover plant. Requiring full sun and well-drained soil, it is very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to −20 °C (−4 °F), and is suitable for hardiness zones USDA 3 to 9.

The following cultivars have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:^[6]

'Kelly's Eye'^[7] (pink)
'McDaniel's Cushion'^[8] (deep pink)
'Red Wings'^[9] (carmine red)

The Native American use the plant internally for rheumatism.^[10]

References[]

^ "Phlox subulata". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 8 January 2018.
^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
^ "Police sorry for drug raid mix-up". BBC News. BBC. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 78. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^ "Phlox 'Kelly's Eye'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
^ "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox subulata 'McDaniel's Cushion'". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
^ "Phlox subulata 'Red Winga'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
^ Romero, John Bruno, 1954, The Botanical Lore of the California Indians, New York. Vantage Press, Inc., page 59

Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
Bay Books. P. 2005. The A-Z of Garden Flowers.

External links[]

Media related to Phlox subulata at Wikimedia Commons

This Ericales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] "Phlox subulata". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 8 January 2018.

[BSBI07-2] BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.

[RHSAZ-3] RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.

[RHSLG-4] Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.

[5] "Police sorry for drug raid mix-up". BBC News. BBC. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2013.

[6] "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 78. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

[7] "Phlox 'Kelly's Eye'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

[8] "RHS Plant Selector - Phlox subulata 'McDaniel's Cushion'". Retrieved 20 July 2013.

[9] "Phlox subulata 'Red Winga'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

[10] Romero, John Bruno, 1954, The Botanical Lore of the California Indians, New York. Vantage Press, Inc., page 59

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]