Wonderful Colour Phlox Drummondii Flower

Phlox drummondii: A Colorful Wildflower of the Southern United States
Phlox drummondii, commonly known as annual phlox, Drummond phlox, or simply phlox, is a vibrant, showy wildflower native to Texas and parts of the southern United States. Beloved by gardeners and admired by botanists, this cheerful annual plant offers a spectacular burst of color in spring and summer gardens. With its wide variety of colors, adaptability, and charming blossoms, Phlox drummondii has carved a special niche in the world of ornamental horticulture and native plant landscaping.
Botanical Background
Scientific name: Phlox drummondii
Family: Polemoniaceae
Common names: Annual phlox, Drummond phlox
Native range: Southeastern United States, primarily Texas
Life cycle: Annual
Flowering season: Spring through early summer This species was named in honor of Scottish botanist Thomas Drummond, who collected it during his explorations of Texas in the early 19th century. The plant was later introduced to Europe, where it quickly became a garden favorite due to its beauty and ease of cultivation.
Physical Description
Phlox drummondii is a compact, bushy annual plant, typically growing to about 6 to 20 inches in height. Its stems are slender and branched, and its leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and slightly sticky due to glandular hairs. However, it’s the flowers that truly steal the show.
Each bloom is about 1 inch across and features five rounded petals, often with a contrasting eye or center. The color palette is remarkably diverse, ranging from deep crimson, cherry red, lavender, pink, salmon, and purple, to pure white. Some cultivars even show bicolored petals or frilled edges. These colorful blossoms grow in dense terminal clusters and attract a wide array of pollinators, especially butterflies and hummingbirds.