Phlox austromontana

Southern mountain phlox

Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Southern mountain phlox is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Boundary, Sierra Nevada Gabilan, and Peninsular Ranges in dry, rocky areas, pinyon and juniper woodland, conifer forest, and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,500 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to pink or lavender flowers with rounded lobes and a delicate 11 to 14 millimeter tube. Growing as a low-growing, mat-like or cushion-like perennial with minimal height, it develops stiff, sharp-tipped stems that are nearly glabrous. Its leaves are lanceolate, approximately 10 to 15 millimeters long, with hairy upper surfaces and generally smooth undersides. The plant forms compact clusters with individual flowers emerging from terminal points, creating a dense, structured appearance in its rocky mountain habitats.

Habitat: Dry, rocky areas, pinyon/juniper woodland, conifer forest, sagebrush scrub

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: 1500-2700 m

Bioregions: SnGb, SnBr, PR

California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Tulare, Modoc, Nevada, Siskiyou, Placer, Ventura, Inyo, Butte, El Dorado, Madera, Lassen, Fresno, Mono, Mendocino

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.