Bloomipedia
Mountain phlox (Phlox austromontana)
Photo: Darrin Gobble via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Mountain phlox

Phlox austromontana

Mountain phlox (Phlox austromontana) is a low shrub in the Polemoniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to Utah

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–May.

8states where USDA records it
631UT sightings*
1,496U.S. sightings*

*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–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 631 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #98 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Utah, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Utah (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (146 records)

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?

For peopleNot well documented

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.

For petsNot well documented

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.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 98 counties across 8 states; the most are in Utah (20), California (17), Nevada (17).

Other Phlox on Bloomipedia (7): Blue phlox, Fall phlox, Prairie phlox, Longleaf phlox, Spiny phlox, Santa Fe phlox, Flowery 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 Utah flowers

Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)

Scarlet gilia

Ipomopsis aggregata

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: May–September
Longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia)

Longleaf phlox

Phlox longifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: March–May
Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha)

Plains pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha

Native

🌼 Blooms in UT: April–June

Sources