Coleus is a dazzling member of the mint family, famous for its wildly colorful, velvet-textured leaves rather than its flowers. Native to tropical Asia and Oceania, these versatile plants get their name from the Greek word koleus, meaning “sheath,” which refers to the fused filaments of their flowers.
A few fun and fascinating facts about this popular plant include:
- They are technically “cousins” of herbs: Because they belong to the mint family (Lamiaceae), all coleus share classic family traits: opposite leaves and distinctly square-shaped stems. [1, 2]
- Flowers are ignored: Coleus do bloom, producing spikes of tiny flowers. However, most gardeners immediately pinch the flower spikes off to keep the plant bushy, encourage more foliage growth, and keep the plant from declining.
- Victorian favorites: These plants were highly coveted during the Victorian era for “carpet bedding,” where they were planted together to create intricate, colorful designs that looked like living carpets.