Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba
Photo: parent species Phlox stansburyi · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba is a native California subshrub in the Polemoniaceae family.
Stansbury's phlox is a California native perennial found in the White and Inyo Mountains in open sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,700 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate flowers with a distinctive corolla tube 18 to 39 millimeters long. Growing with a woody stem that has unevenly spaced internodes, it forms elongated clusters with plants spaced apart. Its leaves are characteristically unequal in length, creating an asymmetrical appearance. The plant's unique growth habit and clustered flower arrangement make it a distinctive component of its high-elevation sagebrush habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 0 sympatric species; geographically isolated with spaced elongate plants and very long corolla tubes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1700-3000 m
California counties: Inyo, Kern
Outside California: to Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba 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 stansburyi subsp. superba native to California?
Yes. Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba bloom?
Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba grow?
Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba occurs in Inyo, Kern, at elevations of 1700-3000 m.
What plant family does Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba belong to?
Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Phlox.
What habitat does Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba grow in?
Phlox stansburyi subsp. superba grows in Open sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia — Cold-desert phlox
- Phlox adsurgens — Northern phlox
- Phlox austromontana — Southern mountain phlox
- Phlox condensata — Condensed phlox
- Phlox diffusa — Spreading phlox
- Phlox dispersa — High sierra phlox
- Polemoniaceae sp. — Phlox family
- Polemonium californicum — California polemonium
- Polemonium carneum — Oregon polemonium
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.