phlox
Americannoun
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any plant of the genus Phlox, of North America, certain species of which are cultivated for their showy flowers of various colors.
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the flower of this plant.
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
When the Queen's coffin left Balmoral Castle, it was accompanied by a wreath made of dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather and pine fir, all collected by her staff from the Balmoral Estate.
From BBC • Sep. 19, 2022
It had been a dry summer, but the lavender Phenomenal was still thriving despite the heat, and so was the garden phlox, a favorite of the hummingbird clearwing moth.
From Washington Post • Aug. 31, 2022
Summer flower garden stars to start indoors now include cosmos, marigolds, scabiosa, stock and phlox.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2022
The elder son ran from the shore and brought his mother back a phlox flower, which he presented to her with great show of gallantry.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
