mat phlox
Phlox diffusa Benth.
Phlox diffusa, known as mat phlox, is a perennial herb in the family Polemoniaceae. Native to western North America, it is found in regions such as Alberta, British Columbia, and California. It grows in rocky, high elevation habitats, forming compact mats with short, decumbent stems. The plant produces solitary tubular flowers with a white or pale pink to blue corolla.
Description
Phlox diffusa is a low-growing perennial herb that forms dense mats or cushions. It has short stems with oppositely arranged, needle-like leaves up to 1.5 cm long. The inflorescence consists of a single tubular flower approximately 1 cm long, with a five-lobed corolla. It is adapted to high elevation environments and is distributed across western North America, including areas from British Columbia to the Dakotas and into the southwestern United States. The species was first described in 1849.
Other common names
mat phloxspreading phlox
Distribution
Alberta · British Columbia · California · Idaho · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · Oregon · South Dakota · Utah · Washington · Wyoming
Synonyms
Phlox diffusa subsp. diffusaPhlox diffusa subsp. typicaPhlox douglasii var. diffusa