phlox

noun

ˈfläks 

plural phlox or phloxes

: any of a genus (Phlox of the family Polemoniaceae, the phlox family) of American annual or perennial herbs that have usually pink, purplish, white, or variegated flowers, a salverform corolla with the stamens on its tube, and a 3-valved capsular fruit

Illustration of phlox

Examples of phlox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of the region’s wildflowers, which include penstemons and pink-hued desert phlox, start blooming later in the spring; make an April or May trip for the best chances of seeing flowers during the season. —Lyndsey Matthews, AFAR Media, 17 Mar. 2025

For continuous flowers, deadhead plants and repeat sowings every three weeks or so during the growing season. 07 of 09 Annual Phlox Like that person at the party who can talk to anyone, annual phlox (Phlox drummondii) blends disparate sections of the garden together seamlessly. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2025

Also known as moss phlox, this eastern North American native thrives in sunny spots to bring spectacular color to often dreary March weather. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025

Other perennial native plants such as monkey flowers, phlox, sages, buckwheats and manzanitas will be in bloom. —Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Phlox, a genus name, going back to Latin phlog-, phlox "a flame-colored flower," borrowed from Greek phlóx, genitive phlogós "flame, flash (of lightning), blaze, radiance, inflammation, a flame-colored flower," o-grade derivative from the stem of phlégein "to burn up, blaze, gleam" — more at phlegm

Note: The genus name Phlox was introduced by linnaeus (Species plantarum, 1753), who adapted it in Hortus Cliffortianus (Amsterdam, 1737, p. 63) from Theophrastus's name for a plant, identified as the wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) by Liddell and Scott's dictionary and Arthur Hort's translation of Historia plantarum (Theophrastus: Enquiry into Plants, vol. 2 [London/New York, 1916], p. 44).

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for phlox

• balks
• blocks
• blocs
• box
• chalks
• chocks
• clocks
• cocks
• cox
• crocks
• docks
• docs

Kids Definition

phlox

noun

ˈfläks 

plural phlox or phloxes

: any of a genus of American herbs widely grown for their showy clusters of usually white, pink, or purplish flowers