PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Cleft Phlox (Phlox bifida ssp. bifida)

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Photo by WDNR Staff

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Cleft Phlox (Phlox bifida ssp. bifida), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in sandy oak woodlands and open grassy areas including, lawns and cemeteries. Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting throughout June. The optimal identification period for this species is late-April through May.

 
 
 

Cleft phlox is a prostrate forb with few-flowered cymes, pale blue-violet, varying to white corolla, 14-20mm wide, 5 heart-shaped petals, notched 25-50% of their length, and elongate styles. Its fruits are 3-locular, oblong capsules. Leaves are linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-4cm, and single-nerved.

Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting throughout June.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-April through late-May.

Associated species include Quercus velutina, Amorpha canescens, Andropogon scoparius, Euphorbia corollata, Lespedeza capitata, and Tradescantia ohioensis.

Cleft phlox is found in sandy oak woodlands and open grassy areas including, lawns and cemeteries.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes in open sandy areas dominated by native grasses.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Maintain partial canopy to encourage woodland species, avoid closed-canopy conditions.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.