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Please help ID wildflower (escapee?)

20 years ago

I spotted this pretty little flower in the Blackland Prairie area of North Texas (alkaline, heavy clay soil/caliche) last spring-- meant to post it then but well, I got busy living, LOL!!

It was growing in mostly sun at the edges of the treed areas. The plants were less than 2' tall when I spotted them, and butterflies found it attractive. This little flower was SO charming, I just had to find out what it is. I don't even know if it's truly a wildflower or simply an escapee or "bird-assisted" planting. All I know is that it's CUTE!

Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

Megan

:)

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Comments (5)

offplumb
20 years ago
maybe phlox??
megan_anne
Original Author
20 years ago
That's what my hubby and I have been thinking-- it sure looks an awful lot like it, and I do believe there is some sort of Phlox that grows wild around here. I've always thought of Phlox as pink, never this lovely periwinkle blue. I'm probably going to post this on the Name That Plant forum in a few days, unless anyone else here has a positive ID. Hubby just loves this flower and is as curious as I am!

Gee, I'd sure love to know this cutie's name... :)

Megan
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Thanks so much for the ID. I'm reading that this plant re-seeds freely so I'm glad about that. Some say it's invasive but these seeds were sown on the edge of the woods behind the small pond we built for the frogs and tadpoles so that shouldn't be a problem. Thanks again. Your expertise is very much appreciated.
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offplumb
20 years ago
hello again megan

the two links below will take you to some of the blue phloxes, and I believe they are native to U.S.
the latter (stonifera) has rounder petals.

I am hardly an expert - so "name that plant" would be a great idea - just to be sure.

Images of phlox divaricata

Images of phlox stonifera

enjoy your day
ahughes798
20 years ago
it's a phlox. A look alike(kind of)is Dame's Rocket, which is not native to this continent. But Dame's Rocket only has 4 petaled flowers. You'll notice that one of the flowers on your phlox has 4 petals. Sneaky, huh?

Always remember, "Phlox has five."
macguy815
20 years ago
That would be wild sweet william- I have tons of it in the woods behind my house.

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