coleus

American  

[koh-lee-uhs] / ˈkoʊ li əs /

noun

plural

coleuses

1. any of several tropical Asian or African plants belonging to the genus Coleus, of the mint family, certain species of which are cultivated for their showy, colored foliage and blue flowers.

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coleus British  

/ ˈkəʊlɪəs /

noun

1. any plant of the Old World genus Coleus: cultivated for their variegated leaves, typically marked with red, yellow, or white: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

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Etymology

Origin of coleus

1865–70; < New Latin < Greek koleós, variant of koleón sheath, scabbard; akin to conceal, hull ¹

Example Sentences

Bifano also is overseeing the planting of more than 500 special coleus plants around the large red barn — aptly named the Barn — on Streisand’s property.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2025

Coral Candy Coleus, the first coleus grown from seed selected as an AAS Winner, is uniformly compact and has unique narrow, serrated, multicolored leaves.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2024

On June 22, the first day the rules that expanded outdoor dining went into effect, she went to a garden store in Nassau County for potted palms, New Guinea impatiens, purple coleus and artificial turf.

From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2020

She said she was more concerned about people staying safe than the welfare of her coleus and salvias plants.

From Washington Times • May 31, 2020

Vigorous coleus stocks, three months old, gave best results if cut to within two or three inches of the pot and all or nearly all the leaves removed from the stump.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891 by Various