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dwarf phlox

dwarf phlox

9.5
A low, spreading plant with thin needle leaves and pink or white flowers used to cover the ground
  • noun
  • /dwɔrf flɑks/
  • US
translation icon : flor de phlox enano
  • She planted dwarf phlox along the pathway for year-round greenery and spring blossoms.

Examples

  • Dwarf phlox thrives best in well-drained soil and full sunlight.

  • The garden bed was bordered with a colorful display of dwarf phlox.

  • The garden was filled with beautiful dwarf phlox.

  • I love the vibrant colors of dwarf phloxes in spring.

  • Dwarf phlox is an excellent choice for ground cover in sunny gardens with its bright pink flowers.

  • Every spring, the dwarf phlox blooms beautifully, attracting butterflies to the garden.

  • In my flower bed, the dwarf phlox adds a lovely burst of color and remains green throughout the year.

Synonyms

Phlox subulata
vsdwarf phlox
  • Specialized
9.5

A low plant with thin evergreen leaves and pink or white flowers used as ground cover

is an alternative name form for the identical plant sense
mountain phlox
vsdwarf phlox
  • US
7.4

A low plant with thin, green leaves and pink or white flowers used as a ground cover

is portrayed without stressing how commonly it is cultivated
moss phlox
vsdwarf phlox
  • US
7.6

A low, spreading evergreen plant with small pink or white flowers used to cover the ground

specifies a tufted growth habit rather than general low form
moss pink
vsdwarf phlox
  • US
6.5

A low plant with pink or white flowers that spreads to cover the ground

forms compact tufts instead of spreading broadly over soil

Surface Forms

dwarf phlox singular
dwarf phloxes plural

Morphology

dwarf + phlox

The phrase is fully compositional: 'dwarf' indicates a small or low-growing variety and 'phlox' names a genus of flowering plants, so together they denote a small/low-growing phlox used as groundcover. This size-modifier + noun pattern is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Dwarf phlox combines dwarf, meaning 'very small', with phlox, a flower name that comes from a Greek word for 'flame' because the blooms look bright like fire. That's why dwarf phlox describes a small, low-growing phlox plant often used as ground cover.