Phlox bifida aka Cleft Phlox

Phlox bifida is a low plant that lives for years. It belongs to the Polemoniaceae family. Common names include sand phlox and cleft-petalled phlox. It comes from the east-central United States. Its range runs from Michigan and Iowa south to Kentucky. It also reaches into Arkansas and Oklahoma. It grows in the Midwest and the Ozarks. In the wild, it grows in open, sandy woods and prairies. It also grows on dry slopes and rocky bluff ledges.

The plant forms a low mat of stems that spread. It reaches about 0.5 feet (0.15 metres) tall. In gardens, it spreads about 1 foot (0.3 metres). Its stems trail on the ground as it grows. With time, plants can spread at a slow pace into larger groups. They may also grow new plants from seed where the site suits them. The small leaves are bright green, narrow, and pointed. Some look much like needles. Leaves reach about 0.17 feet (0.05 metres) long.

The flowers bloom in May and June. Missouri Botanical Garden lists May as the main bloom month. Each flower has a tube and five lobes, each deeply split. These notches give the blooms their cleft-petalled look. Their shades range from pale blue to nearly white. Chicago Botanic Garden lists purple as a flower color too. The blooms have a scent and rise above the leaves. Butterflies visit the blooms in spring.

Grow sand phlox in soil that drains well, with good sun. It accepts light shade, but full sun suits it best. Soil can range from dry to moist at a moderate level. The plant copes with drought and poor soil. It also grows in shallow, rocky ground. Wild sites have limestone, chert, and granite soils. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. Missouri Botanical Garden says it is easy to grow. That source rates its care needs as medium.

Its low form suits rock gardens and the fronts of borders. It also serves as ground cover in native plant gardens. Other uses include cottage gardens and borders of plants that live for years. It suits wildflower meadows too. It resists deer and erosion, which adds value in gardens. Plants in sites that suit them strongly resist powdery mildew and root rot. Soil that drains well remains key to its growth. The supplied sources give no food uses or findings on toxicity.