Prairie phlox is a beautiful prairie perennial that adds striking magenta color to the landscape in early summer. The plants have a taproot that can produce multiple stems from the base. Flowers form in terminal dome-shaped clusters with five petals that vary in shades of pink. The deep tube in the center of the flower directs pollinators to the nectar which is only accessible to long tongued bees, butterflies, and moths. It is the host plant for the Prairie Phlox Flower Moth which is listed a Minnesota Special Concern species due to population decline. Prairie phlox is great for home landscaping, especially in sunny spots with well drained soils.