: 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
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If your petunias and coleus look spindly and leggy, use pruning shears to cut them back by about one-half.
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Shade-loving plants include anthurium, astilbe, begonia, bleeding heart, bromeliad, caladiums, coleus, cranesbill, ferns, foxglove, hellebore, hostas, impatiens, Lily of the Valley, Liriope, lobelia, lungwort, moneywort, periwinkle, spiderwort, trillium, and viola.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
The hotel is home to more than 150 varieties of flowers, including geraniums, roses, peonies, coleus, garden heliotropes, cosmos, lilies, daisies and begonias, according to its website.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025
My coleus leaves and stems are starting to be infested with mealybugs.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2025
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Shade-loving plants include anthurium, astilbe, begonia, bleeding heart, bromeliad, caladiums, coleus, cranesbill, ferns, foxglove, hellebore, hostas, impatiens, Lily of the Valley, Liriope, lobelia, lungwort, moneywort, periwinkle, spiderwort, trillium, and viola.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
The hotel is home to more than 150 varieties of flowers, including geraniums, roses, peonies, coleus, garden heliotropes, cosmos, lilies, daisies and begonias, according to its website.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025
My coleus leaves and stems are starting to be infested with mealybugs.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coleus
Cite this Entry
“Coleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coleus. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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
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