Sand Phlox (Phlox bifida)
[flox BIF-ih-dah]

Evergreen Perennial Mat-Forming, Creeping in the Polemoniaceae Family
A tough little native wildflower for dry, sunny rock gardens - deeply forked petal tips give Sand Phlox its name, and its mat of evergreen foliage lights up with white or lavender-pink blooms each spring.

Sand Phlox is a low, mat-forming native wildflower found on dry, sandy, or rocky open ground across the central and southeastern United States. Each spring, its wiry, needle-like evergreen foliage disappears beneath a flush of white to lavender-pink flowers.

Each petal tip is deeply forked - the trait that gives this species its name, 'bifida' meaning twice-cleft - with a notch noticeably deeper than the similar creeping phlox, P. subulata.

Pros

  • Evergreen, drought-tolerant groundcover for hot, dry sites
  • Deeply fringed petals give it a distinctive, airy look in bloom
  • Low maintenance once established
  • Deer resistant

Cons

  • Needs sharp drainage - struggles in heavy or wet soil
  • Foliage can look sparse out of bloom
  • Short bloom window compared to some other Phlox
Why Like A true native wildflower of dry, rocky, or sandy open ground in the central and southeastern US - a good low-water choice for a native rock garden or sunny slope.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 8 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deer Resistant, Dry, Edging, Evergreen, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Groundcover, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period April - May
Flower Color White
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 07/06
2023 : 05/04 - 05/21

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!