Phlox bifida ‘Betty Blake’ is a superb selection of the easy-to-grow Midwest native sand phlox (Michigan to Kansas). Phlox ‘Betty Blake’ forms a tight, 1′ wide clump of 1″ long, needle-like, glossy evergreen foliage on stems that emerge from a central clump but don’t root down. In mid-April (NC), the clumps are topped with a mass of tightly held, dark lavender-blue, deeply cut flowers that just top the foliage…attractive to hummingbirds. Phlox ‘Betty Blake’ came from the garden of the late Michigan gardener Betty Blake. Despite being found on sandy, rocky nutrient-poor soils, we have had very good luck with this in our East Coast rock garden, although we’d still recommend good drainage.
