.jpg)
A perennial native to eastern North America, from Quebec to Texas and Florida. It naturally grows in deciduous woodlands, shaded edges, and wooded banks, on cool, well-drained soils.
The plant forms loose clumps of upright to semi-upright stems, reaching 15 to 25 cm in height. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, bright green, arranged in pairs along the slightly pubescent stems.
The five-petaled flowers are a pale lilac-blue, slightly variable among individuals, gathered in loose cymes at the top of the stems. The petals are often slightly notched at their tips, distinguishing the species from most other cushion phlox.
In its natural habitat, it blooms from April to June. In cultivation, it generally blooms in April-May.
It prefers cool, humus-rich, well-drained soil, in partial shade or light shade. It tolerates summer humidity better than cushion-forming rock garden species and is suitable for woodland gardens.