foliage plant

noun

: a plant grown primarily for its decorative foliage

Examples of foliage plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Rex begonias are excellent foliage plants for partial shade locations. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2026 Feed foliage plants on the patio or porch every other week or use a slow-release fertilizer. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 Other foliage plants include Begonia rex with all sorts of colors and patterns or Fittonia with red, pink, or white stripes on green leaves. — Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 Ahead, horticulturists share their favorite perennials for growing next to hydrangeas, from striking foliage plants to small flowering trees. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for foliage plant

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foliage plant was in 1862

Rhymes for foliage plant

See All Rhymes for foliage plant

Browse Nearby Words

foliageous
foliage plant
folial
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foliage plant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foliage%20plant. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on foliage plant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foliage plant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All