As spring winds down and summer begins, the woodland wildflowers begin slowing down and woodland edge species begin appearing, particularly along roadsides and the edge of forests. This is the case for the hairy phlox. Hairy phlox has an infrequent distribution in the state and is generally found in the southern tier of counties and gets about as far north as Pulaski county. It would be considered a southeastern species occurring from Kentucky south and west to Mississippi and south and east to Florida. It gets its name because the stem and leaves are quite hairy. It is closely related to another phlox which looks very similar, the prairie phlox (P. pilosa). They can be quite difficult to tell apart by the average person, but in Kentucky I typically see hairy phlox growing in dry sandstone versus prairie phlox which seems to prefer basic or neutral soils of the prairies and barrens. In either case, they both reach about 12" tall and flower color can vary from deep magenta to a light pink. They form small clumps but when massed with eared coreopsis, they put on quite a show. Both species are very drought tolerant, but they must be planted in well-drained soil, no clay. They both can handle full sun but they would prefer some afternoon shade. The genus Phlox is derived from the Greek word for flame and the species name comes from the Latin name "amoen" which means pleasant or charming. This group of plants, which are usually quite showy, have been selected as garden plants for years and there are about 60 species known, most of them native to North America.
would these plants do well in Louisville? Northern hillside, well drained soil with no morning sun, shaded from late, later afternoon sun. If so, where can I buy the seeds or the plants?
ReplyDeleteYes this would do well in that setting and available nursery sources might include shooting star in Frankfort, American Native Nursery, and a host of other smaller nurseries that are easily found doing a google search.
ReplyDelete