Native to Texas, it is also widely distributed in the southeastern United States, especially along public highways.

[2] The flowers have a wide range of colours "from white and cream through pinks, lilacs, roses, purples and reds, to almost black".

[3] Phlox drummondii is named after Scottish botanist Thomas Drummond, who sent it and a variety of other plant samples back to Britain following his 1833–1835 expedition to Texas.

The flowers are single or double, with lightly scented, flat, star-shaped petals.

It tolerates cold weather well, but requires plentiful watering and dislikes drought, wind and heat.