Flower profile
Flowery phlox
Phlox multiflora
Flowery phlox (Phlox multiflora) is a flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.
Flowery phlox is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Wyoming
Quick look
Phlox multiflora, the Rocky Mountain phlox, is a low growing perennial plant native to the Rocky Mountains and parts of the Great Basin in western North America. It has white to lavender flowers.
- 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 8 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Wyoming. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 539 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #51 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OR (S1), UT (S2). (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 page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. 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 flowery phlox in 8 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming.
Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie.
Names, range and relatives
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 63 counties across 8 states; the most are in Wyoming (16), Colorado (15), Idaho (12).
Other Phlox on Bloomipedia (7): Blue phlox, Fall phlox, Prairie phlox, Longleaf phlox, Spiny phlox, Mountain phlox, Santa Fe phlox.
More from the Polemoniaceae family (14 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Scarlet gilia, Jacob's ladder, Grand collomia, Narrow-leaf mountain trumpet, Sky pilot, Flaxflowered ipomopsis, Tall jacob's-ladder.
More Wyoming flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PHMU3.
- iNaturalist, Phlox multiflora: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Phlox multiflora (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Phlox multiflora (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Daughter Dad via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.