bush coleus

plant

Also known as: Coleus thyrsoideus, Plectranthus thyrsoideus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Bush coleus, also known as blue Plectranthus (P. thyrsoideus), is an ornamental plant from Central Africa, belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae). It can grow up to one meter tall and is recognized for its bright blue flowers, which appear in sprays. The leaves of bush coleus are notable for their distinct venation and are typically green with white borders.1

While formerly grouped under the genus Coleus, current taxonomy suggests these plants are distributed across several genera, though the exact classification remains a subject of discussion. The term "coleus" itself originates from the Greek word koleos, meaning sheath.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

coleus
Bush coleus, or blue Plectranthus (P. thyrsoideus, formerly C. thyrsoideus), from Central Africa, reaches a height of one metre and produces sprays of bright blue flowers. The leaves have distinctive venation and are often green with white borders.
Read More
Bush coleus, or blue Plectranthus (P. thyrsoideus, formerly C. thyrsoideus), from Central Africa, reaches a height of one metre and produces sprays of bright blue flowers. The leaves have distinctive venation and are often green with white borders.
Read More