Flower profile

Santa Fe phlox

Phlox nana

Santa Fe phlox (Phlox nana) is a flowering plant in the Polemoniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–August across the U.S.

Native to New Mexico

Santa Fe phlox is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

2states where USDA records it

897NM sightings*

1,438U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: New Mexico

Quick look

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 2 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico. ^NatureServe
iNaturalist has 897 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #61 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in New Mexico (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (47 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: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
New Mexico: Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. ^{19.21.2.9 NMAC}
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 santa Fe phlox in 2 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

New Mexico, Texas.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Lincoln, Otero, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Union.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 21 counties across 2 states; the most are in New Mexico (14), Texas (7).

Other Phlox on Bloomipedia (7): Blue phlox, Fall phlox, Prairie phlox, Longleaf phlox, Spiny phlox, Mountain 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 New Mexico flowers

Scarlet gilia

Ipomopsis aggregata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: July–September

Flaxflowered ipomopsis

Ipomopsis longiflora

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: June–September

Creosote bush

Larrea tridentata

Native

🌼 Blooms in NM: April–August

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PHNA2.
iNaturalist, Phlox nana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
New Mexico: New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC).
New Mexico: New Mexico Noxious Weed List (NM Department of Agriculture, updated June 2020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Phlox nana (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Anders Hastings via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.