Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Also known as Blue Phlox or Wild Blue Phlox, this wildflower spreads slowly through rhizomes. The flowers range from blue to violate. Although deer do not seem to have an interest in them, rabbits sometimes do. It’s a pollinator favorite.

The flowers are often confused with Dame’s rocket, a non-native invasive plant. However, the two can be easily differentiated by the number of petals. Phlox has five petals and Dames Rocket has four.