Phlox douglasii 'Crackerjack'

Perennial of the Polemoniaceae family, Phlox douglasii is native to the mountainous regions of western North America, from Oregon to the Rockies. The species naturally colonizes high-altitude dry lawns, stabilized scree, and well-drained rocky slopes, generally between 1,500 and 3,000 meters. The 'Crackerjack' cultivar is a selection intended for rock gardens and alpine gardens.

It forms a slightly domed cushion, dense but not strictly flat on the ground, reaching 8 to 12 cm in height and gradually spreading over 25 to 35 cm. The foliage consists of small, linear, fine, slightly ciliated leaves of medium green, which remain visible between the flowers and give the plant a prickly texture characteristic of dwarf phlox.

The flowers, borne individually on short stems above the foliage, have five slightly notched petals, in a magenta pink to bright carmine pink, centered with a well-marked yellow-orange eye. Their abundance at the peak of flowering almost entirely covers the cushion. In its natural habitat, the species blooms from May to July depending on the altitude. In cultivation, 'Crackerjack' generally blooms in May-June.

It requires very well-drained soil, poor to moderately fertile, in full sun exposure. It tolerates summer drought well once established and withstands cold winters without difficulty. Stagnant moisture in winter, however, is unfavorable and can cause collar rot.