03/24/2026
Missoula Phlox!
...is not in these photos!
These patches of Phlox were spotted in June along the Northwestern edge of Missoula county. When we first spotted them I wondered, could Missoula Phlox grow this far away, at elevations above 7000 ft?
I asked Dr. Meredith Zettlemoyer (), THE expert on Missoula Phlox, who said, 'It's probably not Missoula Phlox!'
The reason: It has only been found growing at elevations of 4200 ft or less.
If you'd like to learn more about this beautiful endemic plant to Missoula, I updated the link in my bio to include a video of a presentation Dr. Zettlemoyer gave about Missoula Phlox with the Montana Native Plants Society.
Long story short, the Phlox in this photo is likely "Cushion Phlox", a more commonly found Phlox in the Rocky Mountains.
Keep your eye out on Waterworks Hill! Missoula Phlox should start showing up soon!
