Plant of the Week: Starry Cleft Phlox or Sand Phlox (Phlox bifida)

This is one of the earliest blooming phlox found in the state and because of this, it does not have any of the problems with powdery mildew or root rot, as long as you plant it in the appropriate habitat.  This low growing and creeping type phlox, which is more delicate than any of the other phlox, requires full sun to some shade and it likes very well drained or sandy soil that is typically neutral in pH. It naturally occurs from Oklahoma up to Michigan and down to Kentucky and Arkansas. Compared to other phlox species, this one has deeply cleft lobes on the flower which make it quite distinctive. When fully established, this species can form a nice mat because 3 flowers typically form at the end of each stem and individual flowers can develop in the axils of the upper leaf. It can range in color from light blue to pink to white and is visiting by butterflies and moths.  It does have a taproot system but can re-seed itself easily given the proper growing environment. This is a species that does not like competition and companion plants should be grown at a bit of distance from the colony.