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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Phlox maculata

Wild Sweet William, Speckled Phlox, Meadow Phlox

Scientific Name:

Phlox maculata

Genus:

Phlox

Species Epithet:

maculata

Common Name:

Wild Sweet William, Speckled Phlox, Meadow Phlox

Plant Type

Herb/Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Polemoniaceae (Jacobs-Ladder Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

1-3 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

Pink

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist, Wet

Bloom Time:

June, July, August, September

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Moist forests and openings. Fairly common, at least locally, in the NC mountains; rare in the northern and central Piedmont, and might be absent from the southern third. Extremely rare in the Coastal Plain.

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Highest Wildlife Value

Landscape Value:

Highly Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S3: Vulnerable (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

Most references attribute sub-taxa to this species, and Weakely (2018) lists two subspecies. The nominate one -- var. maculata -- is primarily limited to the mountains, whereas the other -- var. pyramidalis -- is more widespread across the state.

This species has a considerable amount of red spots along the stem, many more so than in other Phlox species. The inflorescence has a cylindrical shape.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Jackson Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Phlox maculata. You will likely hear them called Wild Sweet William, Speckled Phlox, Meadow Phlox. This picture shows the This species has a considerable amount of red spots along the stem, many more so than in other Phlox species. The inflorescence has a cylindrical shape. of Phlox maculata

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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