phlox

[ floks ]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Phlox, of North America, certain species of which are cultivated for their showy flowers of various colors. Compare phlox family.
2. the flower of this plant.

phlox

/ flɒks /

noun

1. any polemoniaceous plant of the chiefly North American genus Phlox: cultivated for their clusters of white, red, or purple flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlox¹

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin, special use of Latin phlox < Greek phlóx a flame-colored plant, literally, flame. See phlegm, phlogistic

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlox¹

C18: via Latin from Greek: a plant of glowing colour, literally: flame

Example Sentences

They mingle with puffy red and fuchsia dahlias and purple phlox, as well as hydrangeas, sedum and Creeping Jenny, a ground cover that doubles as paths for strolling.

From Seattle Times

It's named after pink flowers called wild ground phlox, which bloom in early spring and appear throughout the United States and Canada.

From BBC

Also known as wild phlox, the plant blooms with soft peachy pink fading to white blossoms at the top of fuzzy stems that grow 2 to 3 feet tall.

From Seattle Times

The resulting bunch of purple hydrangeas, lavender phlox and an assortment of cheery white flowers looked like a celebration of summer and generosity.

From Seattle Times

One Maryland couple fought their homeowner association over their decision to grow sunflowers and phlox instead of grass.

From New York Times