Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: Santa Fe phlox

Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox)

Distribution: New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Northern Mexico

Habitat: Canyons, slopes, desert roadsides, grasslands, pinyon/junipers and oak woodlands

Hardiness: USDA Zone 6 (-10 to 0 °F)

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant

Growing Conditions: Phlox nana grows on rocky desert slopes and mesas, and in canyons in New Mexico, western Texas, southeastern Arizona, and northern Mexico. This taprooted perennial is found in shrublands and open woodlands at elevations from 3,600-5,100 ft. It is widespread throughout most of New Mexico, growing in meadows, pine forests, juniper woodlands, on grassy and talus slopes, and along roadsides.

Description: Santa Fe phlox varies somewhat depending on the weather, but never reaches more than 1 foot tall. It has 1-7 branching, upright stems with narrow, linear or lance-shaped, paired leaves (up to 1¾ inches long and ¼ inch wide). The stems and leaves are glandular and sticky, and usually hairy. Sparse clusters of flowers in variable colors (pink, purple, white, rarely yellow) are produced at the ends of the stems. Each trumpet-shaped flower has 5 lobes, is up to ¾ inch long and 1 inch wide, with a stalk (pedicel), and a conspicuous white eye.