Flower profile
Mountain phlox
Phlox austromontana
Mountain phlox is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Utah it's most often seen in bloom in March–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Utah
Quick look
Phlox austromontana is a species of phlox known by the common name mountain phlox. It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California, where it grows in forested and wooded mountain habitat, scrub, and open areas. It is a mat-forming perennial herb growing in patches of very short stems.
- It belongs to the Polemoniaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub 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 Utah. NatureServe
- In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 631 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #98 among the 109 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
Mountain phlox gift ideas
Handmade mountain 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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Mountain phlox art print
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Mountain phlox greeting card
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Mountain phlox mug
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Mountain phlox earrings
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Mountain phlox embroidery pattern
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Mountain phlox sticker
When does it bloom?
In Utah, most flowering sightings come in March–June.
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
- Utah
- No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
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 mountain phlox in 8 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah.
Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne.
More Utah flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PHAU3.
- iNaturalist, Phlox austromontana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Phlox austromontana (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Phlox austromontana (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Darrin Gobble via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.