coleus

noun

co·​le·​us ˈkō-lē-əs How to pronounce coleus (audio)
: any of a large genus (Coleus) of Old World herbs of the mint family including ones cultivated for their colorful foliage

Examples of coleus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Reaching 14 inches tall and 12 inches wide, this coleus works best as an annual plant in containers or planting beds in full sun. Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Jan. 2024 My coleus, Dragonwing begonia, new impatiens, pentas, and honeybells cuphea are huge and giving me loads of color. Janet B. Carson, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2023 Instead, try coleus, a low-maintenance plant with big, bold leaves in a variety of color combinations. Ryan Conner, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023 The low temperatures did zap my basil and a few coleus -although some varieties fared better than others. Janet B. Carson, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2023 Coral Candy coleus bloomed well, but flowered continually. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2023 While the color of the foliage is good, there are too many better coleus out there that don’t start to flower until late in the season. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2023 There are many varieties of coleus, and some prefer more shade than others. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2023 This rusty metal bucket—a flea market find—is studded with periwinkles, Rieger begonias, coleus, and other annuals but not overcrowded, which can keep the plants from getting adequate light. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coleus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Greek koleos, koleon sheath

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coleus was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near coleus

Cite this Entry

“Coleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coleus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

coleus

noun
co·​le·​us ˈkō-lē-əs How to pronounce coleus (audio)
: any of a large genus of herbs related to the mints and often grown for their leaves of various colors

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