Trailing Phlox

Phlox nivalis is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name trailing phlox. It is native to the southeastern United States Height: 10 to 15cm. Flower color: purple to pink to white. Bloom time: spring. This southern species blooms about two weeks later than P. subulata. They are very similar, but can be told apart by the length of the style. If you tear the flower in half lengthwise you will see that the style is so short in P. nivalis that the stigma is at the bottom of the tube. In P. subulata the style extends out to the end of the tube. <= It was this description that clenched the ID for me. I thought it was P. subulata until I read this distinction. There is no visible style on this specimen. (As often as I see this plant, I am glad to know it is native!)