Flower profile
Prairie phlox
Phlox pilosa
Prairie phlox is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Arkansas, Mississippi
Quick look
Phlox pilosa, the downy phlox or prairie phlox, is an herbaceous plant in the family Polemoniaceae. It is native to eastern North America, where it is found in open areas such as prairies and woodlands.
- It belongs to the Polemoniaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 32 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Arkansas and Mississippi. NatureServe
- In Arkansas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,168 research-grade sightings of it in Arkansas, ranking #23 among the 109 flowers on our Arkansas list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 311 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #89 among the 110 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist
Prairie phlox gift ideas
Handmade prairie phlox gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Prairie phlox art print
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Prairie phlox greeting card
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Prairie phlox mug
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Prairie phlox earrings
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Prairie phlox embroidery pattern
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Prairie phlox sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 2 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Native | April–June | 1,168 |
| Mississippi | Native | March–May | 311 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Arkansas
- No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
- Mississippi
- No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DC (SX), DE (SX), MD (S1), ND (S1), NY (SH), PA (S1), VA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Phlox subulata (“Moss Phlox”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records prairie phlox in 32 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.
Arkansas counties with USDA records: Arkansas, Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Clark, Cleburne, Conway, Crawford, Cross, Dallas, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sevier, Stone, Union, Van Buren, Washington, Woodruff, Yell.
Mississippi counties with USDA records: Amite, Benton, Chickasaw, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Kemper, Lafayette, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lee, Marshall, Neshoba, Noxubee, Pearl River, Perry, Scott, Smith, Stone, Tishomingo, Wayne, Winston.
More Arkansas flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PHPI.
- iNaturalist, Phlox pilosa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Phlox pilosa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
- Mississippi: Mississippi Noxious Weed List (2 Miss. Code R. 1-3-01-136.01).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Phlox pilosa (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Lauren McLaurin via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.