Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) — Plotwright

›

›

Woodland phlox

Habit (mature) · Cephas / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Limited coverage

Woodland phlox

Phlox divaricata

A native spring-blooming herbaceous perennial of eastern North American woodlands, forming a low spreading carpet of fragrant pale-blue to lavender flowers above evergreen-ish foliage. Naturalizes by ground-running stems that root at the nodes — among the best native groundcovers for dappled-shade beds, woodland edges, and as a living mulch above spring bulbs.

Native: 25 US states

Review: Source-backed

Climate fit: broad (77/100)

Pollinator

Filler

Border

Light

Part shade

Water

Consistent moisture

Mature size

6-12" tall · 12" apart

Hardy in zones

3a-8b

brutally cold to frosty winters

Summer heat range

Cool-Warm

cool to warm summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.

Native in Illinois

Yes

Related products

Sponsored

Moisture retention

Mulch, watering rings, compost, coconut coir, and soil-cover supplies.

Search moisture retention on Amazon →

Watering and irrigation

Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.

Search watering and irrigation on Amazon →

Wildlife protection

Bird netting, deer fencing, rabbit guards, trunk guards, and crop covers.

Search wildlife protection on Amazon →

Drainage and aeration

Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.

Search drainage and aeration on Amazon →

Transplanting and establishment

Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.

Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon →

Pest and disease monitoring

Sticky traps, hand lenses, sprayers, disease-monitoring tools, and pest barriers.

Search pest and disease monitoring on Amazon →

Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Native across 25 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Cold hardiness

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7b

Plotwright

Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)

Well-suited

In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

°C

°F

Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 40 ecoregions — 35 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 suited today. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

Arizona Mountains forests

Blue Mountains forests

Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

Central Tallgrass prairie

Central-Southern Cascades Forests

Colorado Rockies forests

Cross-Timbers savanna-woodland

Sources & citations

Cite this page

For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.

Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/woodland-phlox

Sources for every fact

Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

University extension service

Backs 17 fields

Identity

Summary

Plant type

Light

Moisture

Hardiness

Heat zone

Size

Spacing

Habit

Design roles

Seasonal interest

Growth stages

Lifecycle

Regional guidance

Success tips

Designer notes

Wikimedia Commons

Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Backs 1 field

Image

Community photos

The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.

Plotwright

Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.

support@arteractive.co

Explore

Reference

Policies

© 2026 Plotwright