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

Spring to early summer, fall Creeping Phlox Some spring flowers add height to garden beds, but creeping phlox is an easy-care groundcover that’s ideal for sunny flower beds that need more color. —Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 22 Apr. 2026

Ahead, gardening experts share the ideal time to add creeping phlox to your landscape, while considering factors that affect planting times, such as air temperature, soil warmth, and season. —Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026

Creeping phlox provides excellent erosion control in a variety of garden settings. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026

Phlox is a perennial that has clusters of blooms that mirror the look of hydrangeas, and phlox comes in similar flower shades of pink, purple, and white. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026

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