Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia
Cold-desert phlox
Photo: parent species Phlox stansburyi · (c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia (Cold-desert phlox) is a native California perennial in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by woody stems with even internodes, equal leaf lengths, short corolla tubes.
Cold-desert phlox is a California native perennial found in the Great Basin and desert mountains in dry sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,700 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces delicate pale flowers with a corolla tube 8.5 to 19 millimeters long. Growing with compact, generally woody stems that have evenly spaced internodes, the plant forms a structured, contained habit. Its leaves are generally equal in length, creating a uniform appearance across the plant's compact structure. The distinctive spacing and woody stems make this phlox a unique inhabitant of high-elevation desert landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by woody stems with even internodes, equal leaf lengths, short corolla tubes
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1700-3000 m
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia 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 var. brevifolia native to California?
Yes. Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia bloom?
Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia belong to?
Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Phlox.
What habitat does Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia grow in?
Phlox stansburyi var. brevifolia grows in dry sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Phlox adsurgens — Northern phlox
- Phlox austromontana — Southern mountain phlox
- Phlox condensata — Condensed phlox
- Phlox diffusa — Spreading phlox
- Phlox dispersa — High sierra phlox
- Phlox dolichantha — Big bear valley phlox
- Polemoniaceae sp. — Phlox family
- Polemonium californicum — California polemonium
- Polemonium carneum — Oregon polemonium
- Polemonium chartaceum — Mason's sky pilot
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.