The
photo above shows a close-up side-view of the calyx and tubular corolla of spreading
phlox. Note the tufts of hairs found between the calyx lobes. Photographed in
the summit crater of Potato Hill, on the north side of Mt. Adams........June
21, 2005.
Spreading phlox is a beautiful, primarily mat-forming perennial. It may occasionally be found with upright growth, but not exceeding 10 cm in height. Its leaves are green, and not sticky or hairy. They tend to be much softer to the touch than those of Hood's phlox. Leaf shape is acicular or needle-like, with a length of 5 to 20 mm, and a width of 1 to 2 mm.
The flowers are solitary and nearly sessile at the ends of the stems. The calyx is somewhat hairy, with flat membranes between the calyx ridges. The flowers are tubular, with the 5 petal lobes angled perpendicularly away from the tube. The tube is about 9-17 mm long, with the lobes being 5 to 9 mm long. Flower color is white, pink, or a light blue. The style is 2-4 mm long. One anther is found near the opening of the tube, two below its base, and an additional two just above the middle of the tube (at about the same height as the tip of the style and stigmas).
Spreading phlox is suitable for the front of flower borders or the rock garden. One should provide good drainage, perhaps a raised bed, and limit the intrusion of taller species that might outcompete it. Cushions may extend to about 50-80 cm wide. It does survive the moist climate west of the Cascades fairly well.
Hood's Phlox: Phlox hoodii - Low, matted phlox that forms fairly dense cushions with very sharp, spine-tipped leaves. Generally found in the eastern extent of the Columbia River Gorge, from about the Dalles and to the east.
Spreading Phlox is a wildflower of middle to high elevations in the mountains. It is typically found in open forests or open rocky slopes.
Spreading Phlox is found from the mountains of Vancouver Island, south through the Olympic Mts, and at Saddle Mt in the coast range of Oregon. It is widespread through the Cascades from southern British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada of California. Eastward, it ranges across northern Washington, Idaho, and Montana to the west slopes of the Rocky Mts. It may occasionally be found as far south as the mountains of central Idaho and northeastern Oregon.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4700' near the western end of the Gorge east to near the Little White Salmon River.
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