Wild Sweet William (Phlox divaricata subsp. laphamii)
flox div-air-ih-KAY-tah subspecies laphamii

Deciduous Perennial Mounding, Spreading in the Polemoniaceae Family
A bluer-flowered woodland relative of Wild Sweet William, native especially to the interior Midwest and Ozark region, with petals barely notched compared to the typical subspecies.

This subspecies of Wild Blue Phlox is native especially to the interior highlands of the Midwest and Ozark region, where it grows in rich woodland soil much like the typical subspecies. Its flowers tend toward a deeper, truer blue, and its petal tips are only slightly notched or even untoothed - noticeably less deeply cleft than the typical subspecies.

Like its relative, it spreads gently into a loose woodland groundcover and blooms in mid-spring.

Pros

  • Deeper blue flower color than the typical subspecies
  • Thrives in shade where many flowering perennials struggle
  • Spreads gently to form an attractive woodland groundcover

Cons

  • Prefers consistent moisture - doesn't tolerate prolonged drought
  • Can be susceptible to powdery mildew in crowded, poorly-ventilated spots
Why Like A true native wildflower, especially of the interior Midwest and Ozark region - a good choice for an authentic woodland garden in that part of its range.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium
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, Mounded, 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 Site Tolerant
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Blue
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 05/04 - 08/27


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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!