Creeping phlox

Description

Phlox stolonifera (creeping phlox or moss phlox) is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to the eastern United States. It occurs in woodlands and stream banks in the vicinity of the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania south to northern Georgia. Naturalized populations occur as far north as Québec, Canada. Its flowers are pale purple, pink, or white, 2–2.5 cm (0.79–0.98 in) in diameter, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens, which are borne on stems that are 15–25 cm (6–10 in) tall. They lack the central band of color that is present in the flowers of the related Phlox subulata. The leaves are ovate. Those on creeping stems are 3–4.5 cm (1.2–1.8 in) long and 1.8 cm (0.71 in) broad, while those on the erect flowering stems are smaller, 2 cm (1 in) long. The Latin specific epithet stolonifera means having stolons or rooting runners.