Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Lori S. on September 02, 2012, 03:10:07 AM

Title: Possible phlox?
Post by: Lori S. on September 02, 2012, 03:10:07 AM

Hi,
Is anyone able to identify the plant shown in the attached link?  Thank you in advance for any suggestions.
http://www.gardenbuddies.com/forums/alpines-and-primulas/10904-arabis-blepharophylla.html (http://www.gardenbuddies.com/forums/alpines-and-primulas/10904-arabis-blepharophylla.html)

Title: Re: Possible phlox?
Post by: Maggi Young on September 02, 2012, 10:10:11 AM

An interesting photo, Lori.   The mat of foliage to the right of ther flowering plant looks to be from a phlox but I think I detect a large calyx behind the flowers, and the foliage of the flowering plant, though not seen very clearly, looks more like a Silene to me.....

Title: Re: Possible phlox?
Post by: Lvandelft on September 02, 2012, 01:45:02 PM

Looking at the 3rd picture with the leaves the first coming up in my mind is Phlox procumbens rosea....
But I confess that I have not seen this plant lively since many years  :-\

Title: Re: Possible phlox?
Post by: Maggi Young on September 02, 2012, 02:17:17 PM

Ah! there are more photos- I did not see those at first.... now I see that what I thought were inflated calyces are not so... so I think surely a phlox..... but which? !!

Title: Re: Possible phlox?
Post by: TheOnionMan on September 02, 2012, 02:33:08 PM

I'm quite sure it is a Phlox.  My first instinct seeing the flowers was P. stolonifera, but I agree with Lori (based on same post over at NARGS forum) that the foliage is different.  I agree with Luit that the foliage looks like Phlox x procumbens 'Rosea', but the stems look too tall in the subject plant.  Here's a link showing Phlox x procumbens 'Rosea' where the foliage can be seen.
http://www.zauberstaude.de/Zauberstaude-p4894h2s20-Phlox-procumbens-Ros.html (http://www.zauberstaude.de/Zauberstaude-p4894h2s20-Phlox-procumbens-Ros.html)

Note that Phlox x procumbens is a natural hybrid between P. stolonifera and subulata.  Looking through Wherry's monograph on Phlox, there are dozens of possibilities of what Phlox this can be, but it is so difficult to narrow these down.  The USDA lists 70 Phlox species, which is greatly "lumped" as compared to Wherry's scientific treatment, so I would just call the subject plant a "lovely phlox". 

Title: Re: Possible phlox?
Post by: Mark on September 02, 2012, 09:33:04 PM

We have a Phlox in our garden that is around 5ft tall, varigated with dark purple flowers........ any ideas as to the name???? i will have to take a photo of it tomorrow!

Title: Re: Possible phlox?
Post by: Lori S. on September 02, 2012, 09:36:08 PM

Yours is probably a cultivar of Phlox paniculata, Mr. Crocosmia.