Phlox drummondii, commonly known as annual phlox or Drummond’s phlox, is a colorful, low-growing annual wildflower native to Texas that typically reaches about 6 to 18 inches tall with a spread of 8 to 24 inches wide, forming a dense, mounded display of color. The slender, branching stems are slightly sticky and support narrow, lance-shaped leaves measuring approximately 1 to 3 inches long and about ¼ to 1 inch wide, arranged oppositely along the stems. From late spring through summer, the plant produces abundant clusters of five-petaled flowers, each bloom measuring roughly 1 to 1½ inches across, in brilliant shades of red, pink, purple, lavender, blue, and white, often with contrasting central “eyes.” The flower clusters themselves can span 3 to 6 inches across, creating a showy mass effect in beds and borders. Its fine, fibrous root system typically extends 6 to 12 inches deep, making it well-suited to well-drained soils. Compact varieties may stay closer to 6 to 10 inches tall, while taller strains can approach 18 inches in height, making this adaptable annual ideal for edging, containers, rock gardens, and colorful groundcover displays.