Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

Photographic Location: Great Smokey Mountains

This is a member of the Polemoniaceae family. Also known as Phlox family. There are a lot of species of Phlox in this area and all are beautiful plants. 

Creeping phlox is a spreading, mat-forming phlox which is native to wooded areas and stream banks in the Appalachian Mountains. Creeping, leafy, vegetative (sterile) stems typically form a foliage mat to 3" tall and spread indefinitely. Loose clusters (cymes) of fragrant, tubular, lavender flowers (to 3/4" wide) with five, flat, petal-like, rounded lobes appear on upright, leafy, flowering stems which rise above the foliage mat to 8" tall in spring. Oblong to oval green leaves (to 3" long) on the sterile stems, with smaller flowering stem leaves (to 3/4" long).

For more information about this wildflower, Click Here.