carpet phlox

Phlox caespitosa Nutt.

Phlox caespitosa, known as carpet phlox or tufted phlox, is a species in the family Polemoniaceae. Native to western North America, it is found in Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. It grows in scrub, woodland, and open plateau habitats. This species was first described in 1834 by Nutt.

Description

Phlox caespitosa is a cushion-forming species that occurs in western North America. It is part of a group of similar species that require careful observation to distinguish. Previously, it was sometimes confused with Phlox douglasii. The plant is adapted to open, scrubby, and woodland environments, and it is found from British Columbia through the Great Basin to New Mexico.