Phlox subulata

Habitat: Dry rocky woodlands, sandy areas, savannas, rocky ledges, slopes, clearings, and open woodlands. It is native mainly to the Appalachian Mountains. . Locally frequent in the mountains (except far sw. Virginia); infrequent in the piedmont.

Wildlife value: Flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, skippers, and bees. Rabbits eat the foliage.

Notes: nice rock garden plant. It grows up to 6 inches tall and up to 2 to 3 feet wide. Likes sandy and gravely soil and can tolerate hot and dry conditions better than other species of phlox. It is good practice to cut back the stems by 1/2  when flowering is completed to help maintain their shape and encourage dense growth.