phlox

American  

[floks] / flɒks /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Phlox, of North America, certain species of which are cultivated for their showy flowers of various colors.

2. the flower of this plant.

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phlox British  

/ flɒks /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of phlox

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

Explanation

Phlox is a colorful flower with clusters of many small blossoms. If you want to add bright hues to your garden, you should plant some phlox. Most phlox is native to North America, but its range spans the continent, from frozen alpine tundra to midwestern prairies to Florida. You can find low-growing wild phlox in meadows and tall, ornamental varieties in gardens. This plant blooms in many different colors, including pale blue, purple, pink, and bright red. In Greek, phlox means "a flame," from a root meaning "to shine, flash, or burn."

Example Sentences

In this case, the Pink Moon refers to the pink phlox flower which blooms widely across North America at this time of year.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

At this point, you’ll mostly lose the ocean view but be greeted by a diversity of local plants, including wildflowers like spreading phlox, and varieties of poppies, lupines and paintbrushes.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2025

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 • Sep. 30, 2023

The latter course is especially effective in spring-themed beds, where bulbs pop up between such things as hellebores, epimediums, creeping phlox, foam flowers, Virginia bluebells, Solomon’s seal and ferns.

From Washington Post • Oct. 20, 2020

White Queen Anne’s lace and purple phlox and big orange daylilies blossomed along the road.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls