Phlox speciosa
Showy phlox
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Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Phlox speciosa (Showy phlox) is a native California subshrub in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by erect habit, lance-linear leaves, and obcordate to deeply 2-lobed corolla lobes.
Showy phlox is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada in rocky, wooded slopes and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 500 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces bright pink to white flowers with obcordate lobes in delicate terminal clusters. Growing with erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms open, airy clumps with slender branches. Its narrow lance-linear leaves measure 1 to 5 centimeters long, providing a delicate texture to the plant's overall structure. The flower's bright pink to white corolla tube extends 10 to 15 millimeters, creating a striking display against rocky mountain landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are erect habit, lance-linear leaves, and obcordate to deeply 2-lobed corolla lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky, wooded slopes, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 500-2400 m
California counties: Shasta, Del Norte, Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Trinity, El Dorado, Sonoma, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Plumas, Yuba, Nevada, Amador, Fresno
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Bloom period
Phlox speciosa blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Linanthus: Phlox has opposite leaves; Linanthus has alternate leaves arranged singly along the stem.; vs Leptosiphon: Phlox leaves are completely undivided blades; Leptosiphon leaves are deeply cut into finger-like segments.; vs Pelargonium: Phlox has opposite, narrow unlobed leaves; Pelargonium has alternate, round lobed leaves with strong scent.; vs Catharanthus: Phlox is native with opposite leaves; Catharanthus (periwinkle) has glossy opposite leaves with white midvein.; vs Dianthus: Phlox has spreading 5-petaled flowers with tube; Dianthus has fringed or toothed petals emerging from tubular calyx.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phlox speciosa native to California?
Yes. Phlox speciosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phlox speciosa bloom?
Phlox speciosa blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Phlox speciosa grow?
Phlox speciosa occurs in Shasta, Del Norte, Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Trinity and other counties, at elevations of 500-2400 m.
What plant family does Phlox speciosa belong to?
Phlox speciosa is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Phlox.
What habitat does Phlox speciosa grow in?
Phlox speciosa grows in Rocky, wooded slopes, sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.