Many of Coleman's early natural history work was conducted in the garden and bushland surrounding Walsham, as well as their cottage in Healesville and Sorrento, Victoria.

[5] She published over 350 popular and scientific articles from that time onwards in The Victorian Naturalist as well as newspapers and magazines.

[7] She made significant scientific contributions to the study of many Australian species, including orchids, mistletoe, spiders, insects, birds and fish as well as papers on herbs, gardening and history.

Her work was republished internationally by Oxford biologist Edward Bagnall Poulton[9] and acclaimed by Harvard entomologist Oakes Ames.

[10] She worked with and influenced many naturalists including Rica Erickson, Herman Rupp, Jean Galbraith, and Richard Sanders Rogers who named Prasophyllum colemaniae after her and her daughters.