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

Moss phlox is great for erosion control on slopes or planting as a groundcover beneath roses and other shrubs. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 June 2025

Go to the Garden’s website to access Plant Evaluation Notes, reports on the performance of cultivars of various plant genera, such as phlox, to find the cultivars that grew best in testing at the Garden. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025

The tall flower clusters of summer phlox add long-lasting color to the garden in a range of hues to complement any variety of rose. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025

Planting a pollinator-friendly garden full of hummers’ favorite flowers—like bee balm, phlox, and lupine—can also help, as can the right bird bath. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 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