Scientific Family
Polemoniaceae
Other common names
desert mountain phlox
desert phlox
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 4 inches
Riparian
No
A subshrub that grows close to the ground often forming extensive mats. Leaves are short and prickly in appearance but still quite soft and flexible in texture; flowers mostly separate, not overlapping towards the base, and are centered on a small tube.
Stems mostly short, branched, less than 4 inches long, lower habit than other phloxes, compact grayish-green appearance; leaves thin, soft; hairs fine; pinkish-purple to pink to white flowers; membrane between sepals keeled; stems simple, 1 to 5 flowers.
Habitat
Forests and woodland mountain habitat, scrub, and open areas.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
3900
High elevation
8500
Flower Characteristics
Solitary; small stalk; sepals 1/2 inch long; membranes weakly ridged to distended; tube 1/2 to 3/4 inch long; lobes 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, oval, rounded at the tips; yellow-tipped stamens inserted on upper tube; stigmas located below most of stamens.
Flower color
White or pink or pinkish-purple
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems 2-1/2 to 4 inches long; lower stalks obscured by leaves; leaves elongated, firm, thick, ending in a short sharp point; without hairs to sparse covering of white hairs, mostly on the upper surfaces; 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, 1/16 inch wide.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
3 segments; separating from a single column.
Fruit type
Capsule