Wild Sweet William (Phlox divaricata)
[flox div-air-ih-KAY-tah]

Deciduous Perennial in the Polemoniaceae Family
 
 
Available May 7
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $12.36
38 FLAT Field $86.58
Tray of 10 4" pots Field $62.78
Available May 14
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $12.36
38 FLAT Field $86.58
Tray of 10 4" pots Field $62.78
 

Phlox divaricata, the wild blue phlox, woodland phlox, or wild sweet william, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to forests and fields in eastern North America. Wild blue phlox is a semi-evergreen perennial growing 25–50 cm (10–20 in) tall with opposite, unstalked, hairy leaves 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) in length and ovate-lanceolate in shape. Flowers appear in late spring and early summer. They are pleasantly fragrant and 2–4 cm (3⁄4–11⁄2 in) in diameter, with five petals fused at the base into a thin tube. The petals are a variety of pastel colors: blue-lavender, light purple, pink, or white.

Pros

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Plant Data

Mature Size 9 - 18 inches tall. 9 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Water weekly for the first few weeks and often enough to keep the soil lightly moist thereafter. Keep the foliage as dry as possible by applying the water to the soil rather than the foliage.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry Shade Tolerant, Edging, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, For a Shady Spot, Formal Garden, Fragrant, Full Shade, 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, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period April to May
Flower Color Rose/Lavender Or Violet/Blue
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Absolutely Easy Garden Recipes that include Wild Sweet William
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Aquilegia, Carex albicans, Carex plantaginea, Heuchera, Dryopteris marginalis or Polystichum acrostichoides.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/08
2023 : 05/04 - 09/10


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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


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.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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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!