: 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
Coleus From dwarf to shrub sized plants, there's a good coleus (Coleus scutellarioides) for every garden.
—
Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Apr. 2026
Plant coleus in well-draining soil and water frequently.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Plants include Canna 'Australis', reddish orange New Guinea impatiens, purple petunia, Ipomea, Angelonia, cleome, coleus, Scaevola, lantana, kangaroo paws, Algerian ivy, and croton.
—Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026
In the brightest light, a sunroom, perhaps, a room with lots of direct sunlight, croton, geraniums, coleus, kalanchoes, hibiscus, ponytail palms, and aloes all will be happy.
—Becky Wern, Florida Times-Union, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coleus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Apr. 2026
Plant coleus in well-draining soil and water frequently.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Plants include Canna 'Australis', reddish orange New Guinea impatiens, purple petunia, Ipomea, Angelonia, cleome, coleus, Scaevola, lantana, kangaroo paws, Algerian ivy, and croton.
—Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026
In the brightest light, a sunroom, perhaps, a room with lots of direct sunlight, croton, geraniums, coleus, kalanchoes, hibiscus, ponytail palms, and aloes all will be happy.
—Becky Wern, Florida Times-Union, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coleus
Cite this Entry
“Coleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coleus. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coleus
noun
co·le·us
ˈkō-lē-əs 
: any of a large genus of herbs related to the mints and often grown for their leaves of various colors
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
