Phlox paniculata L.
Garden phlox, fall phlox
The common name “garden phlox” is misleading, since this plant is a widespread North American native plant—the name refers to its popularity among gardeners. Numerous cultivars have been developed. They prefer average soils and full sun.
Plants: 2–3′ (60–91 cm) tall, sometimes reaching 4′ (1.2 m), and up to 3′ (1 m) around.
Leaves: Opposite, elliptic, 4–7″ (10–17 cm) long, pointed at both ends, sometimes wider near the base, otherwise widest in the middle.
Flowers: Branched flower clusters form rounded panicles 3–8″ (8–20 cm) around are composed of multiple salverform flowers. Each flower is tubular, fragrant, about 1″ (2.5 cm) deep, and ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) around, with five petals. Wild flowers are pink or purple, sometimes white. Cultivars have many other colors as well. Blooms appear from July to September.
Fruits: Oval, three-celled, with two seeds per cell.
Habitats: Along streambanks and in moist wooded areas.
Online References:
7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 9″ (23 × 23 cm) 
6/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
6/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
A visiting Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly. · 8/12/2011 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · By Constance B. Kent 
ID is uncertain 
6/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Ericales | Tea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others |
| Family | Polemoniaceae | Phlox, Jabob’s-ladder |
| Genus | Phlox | Greek φλόξ, means “flame” |
| Species | paniculata | “With flowers in panicles” |
Phlox paniculata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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