coleus

[ koh-lee-uhs ]

noun

, plural co·le·us·es.

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.

coleus

/ 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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of coleus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of coleus¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek koleos, variant of koleon sheath; from the way in which the stamens are joined

Example Sentences

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

“Nobody who has seen a Coleus topiary has ever said to me, ‘Oh, that old thing?’”

From Seattle Times

But Coleus, which takes just six to nine months from cutting to finished standard — the classic shape of a tall, single stem topped by a foliar globe — has them all beat for speed.

From Seattle Times

He can’t remember when he trained his first Coleus.

From Seattle Times

Although it is marketed to gardeners alongside annuals for seasonal color, Coleus is perennial in its tropical or subtropical places of origin.

From Seattle Times