Erect herb.  Leaves in pairs on either side of stem, 5 or more times longer than wide.  Flowers pink to purple, flat-topped, but with the five petals united at the base to form a slender tube.  Blooms in late spring.

Plant of open places.  Common on the eastern slope of the Park, especially along the edge of the woods under the power line along Wildwood Drive.

Easily identified.  At first glance might be mistaken for Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis), but that plant has four petals, and leaves that are toothed and not opposite each other.

Earlier, this plant was identified on the website as Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima, but this identification was called into question.  Plants were therefore carefully examined using the Flora of Virginia app, and proved to be Phlox ovata.  We regret this long-standing error.

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