Mountain Collomia/Large-flowered Phlox is an annual wildflower native to western North America from British Columbia to Arizona. It grows 1-3 feet tall with white, salmon, or pale orange trumpet-shaped flowers in dense clusters at the top of erect, hairy stems from April to June. It is used ornamentally in flower beds and pollinator gardens due to its spectacular blooms and ability to reseed easily in full sun to part shade in most local soils with adequate winter/spring moisture.

1. *Mountain Collomia/Large-flowered Phlox – Collomia grandiflora
(kol-LOH-mee-uh gran-dih-FLOR-uh )
Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)
Western North America from British Columbia to AZ, including much of CA (west of
Sierras). Locally in San Gabriel, Liebre Mtns; dry streambeds, open and shaded slopes, in many
plant communities < 8000 ft (Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Lodgepole Forest, Subalpine Forest,
Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland).
Native to:
annual wildflower
mature height: 1-3 ft.
mature width: 1 ft.
Herbaceous annual. Stems erect , robust, hairy and often un-branched. Leaves medium green,
lance-shaped to linear, alternate; leaf margins may be smooth or serrated Plant has a long taproot.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms in late spring (Apr-June) in our area. Flowers are spectacular: up to 1 inch
diameter and white or more usually salmon- or pale orange-colored. Flowers are in dense clusters
at the tops of the stems. Individual flowers are trumpet-shaped, with 5 fused petals and distinctive
blue pollen. Fruits a dry capsule with sticky seeds.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Mostly used as an ornamental in flower beds throughout the world. Combine
with blue or purple flowers for a stunning effect! Excellent in pollinator garden with other annuals.
Reseeds well on bare ground or areas with inorganic mulch – good for naturalizing.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native orange-flowered plants.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: provides pollen and seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade.
Most local soils; any local pH.
Adequate winter/spring moisture; then dry to set seeds.
Not needed; not harmful
No mulch – or use gravel mulch.
Supplement water if needed. Harvest seeds when capsules begin to open (they pop
open when dry, expelling seed) or let re-seed naturally. Remove dead plants after seeds are gone.
Management:
Propagation: from seed: easy; no pre-treatment
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 19, 46, commercial seed sources
12/29/13
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