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 December
1999
 Ruellia
'Black Beauty'
November
1999
Daphne
arbuscula
October
1999
Tulipa
schrenkii
September
1999
Machaeranthera
colorodoensis
August
1999
Veronica
spicata nana
July
1999
Campanula
garganica
June
1999
Saponaria
X Olivana
 May
1999
Phlox
bifida
April
1999
Aethionema
oppositifolium
March
1999
Cyclamen
coum
February
1999
Moneses
uniflora
January
1999
Eritrichum
nanum
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Plant
of the Month
May
1999
Phlox
bifida
by Iza Goroff
Phlox
bifida is a native of the Midwest USA, in parts of
Missouri, Iowa, southern Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Indiana. It is a member of the Polemoniacae,
the family which also includes the Jacob's Ladders.
Although it
is sometimes called the Sand Phlox, Wherry thought the
common name should be Ten Point Phlox, because of its deeply
notched petals. Those petals give a snow flake appearance,
though not with the hexagonal symmetry of a snow flake. The
basic color of the flowers is a lavender which can look blue
under some conditions. There are brilliant white flowered
forms.
Phlox
bifida has a similar landscape effect as the more
common Phlox subulata. Its
leaves are longer than those of P.
subulata and not smooth, unlike P.
subulata. P.
bifida readily hybridizes with P.
subulata; the vigorous H. Lincoln Foster
hybrid 'Millstream Jupiter' is
probably from that cross.
Phlox
bifida is easy to grow in well drained, sandy soil.
It prefers full sun, though will do well even in half sun.
Though not an alpine, it is a rock plant in some sites in
nature and has the habit of an alpine. It is very hardy,
probably to at least -40 degrees F&C.
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