SimplePlant

Lamiaceae

Coleus

Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Coleus

Pets and kids

  • CatsNot sure
  • DogsNot sure
  • KidsMildly toxic
Why

Cats: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Dogs: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Kids: Mildly toxic

Mildly toxic to young children. Toxic principle: diterpene coleonol, coleon O.

Signs: skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, rash.

Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
FlowerPhoto: 黃美滿, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Is Coleus safe for cats, dogs and kids?

Is Coleus safe for cats?

We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Is Coleus safe for dogs?

We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Is Coleus safe for kids?

No. Our sources call Coleus mildly toxic to young children. Toxic principle: diterpene coleonol, coleon O. Signs: skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, rash.

Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.

See all cat-safe plants, dog-safe plants and child-safe plants.

Common names

By language (28)
Afrikaans
Josefskleed
Arabic
نبات السجاد, نجده, نِجدة
arz
نبات السجاد
azb
سولنوستمون سجوتئللاریویدئس
ban
Miana
Belarusian
Колеус Блюма, Колеус Рэнельта
Bulgarian
Декоративна копривка
Chinese
五彩苏, 五彩蘇, 彩叶草, 小五彩苏, 洋紫苏, 小鞘蕊花, 锦紫苏, 彩葉草
Czech
Pochvatec šišákovitý, Africká kopřiva, Koleus
Danish
Paletblad
Dutch
Siernetel
English
Coleus, Common coleus, Painted nettle
Finnish
Isokirjopeippi
French
Vieux garçon
German
Buntnessel
gor
Polohungo
Greek
Ωραιόφυλο, Κολεός, Χρυσή τσουκνίδα
Icelandic
Álfamöttull
Indonesian
Coleus
Japanese
ケサヤバナ
Macedonian
Шарена коприва
Malay
Pokok Ati-ati Merah
Malayalam
തിരുഹൃദയച്ചെടി
min
Piladang
Polish
Koleus Blumego
Portuguese
Cóleus
Russian
Шпороцветник шлемниковидный, Колеус блюме, Колеус Блюма, Колеус шлемниковый
Swedish
Palettblad, Nässelblomma, Palettblomma, Rumsnässla

Synonyms

  • Calchas acuminatus (Benth.) P.V.Heath
  • Calchas atropurpureus (Benth.) P.V.Heath
  • Calchas crispipilus (Merr.) P.V.Heath
  • Calchas scutellarioides (L.) P.V.Heath
  • Calchas scutellarioides var. angustifolia (Benth.) P.V.Heath
  • Calchas scutellarioides var. crispipilus (Merr.) P.V.Heath
  • Calchas scutellarioides var. limnophila (Benth.) P.V.Heath
  • Coleus acuminatus Benth.
  • Coleus atropurpureus Benth.
  • Coleus atropurpureus var. densiflorus Benth.
  • Coleus atropurpureus var. javanicus Benth.
  • Coleus atropurpureus var. ramosus Benth.
  • Coleus batemannii T.Moore
  • Coleus bausei T.Moore
  • Coleus bellotii Jacob-Makoy
  • Coleus berkeleyi T.Moore
  • Coleus blancoi Benth.
  • Coleus blumei Benth.
  • Coleus blumei var. marshallii (T.Moore) Rothsch.
  • Coleus blumei var. murrayi (T.Moore) Rothsch.
  • Coleus blumei var. pectinatus C.Morren
  • Coleus blumei var. telfordii (McPhail ex Laurentius) Rothsch.
  • Coleus blumei var. verschaffeltii (Lem.) Sved., Junell & Örtendahl
  • Coleus clarkei T.Moore
  • Coleus crispipilus (Merr.) Merr.
  • Coleus dixii T.Moore
  • Coleus eureka Anon.
  • Coleus formosanus Hayata
  • Coleus gaudichaudii Briq.
  • Coleus gibbsiae S.Moore
  • Coleus gibsonii J.J.Veitch
  • Coleus grandifolius Benth.
  • Coleus grandifolius Blanco
  • Coleus hendersonii Regel
  • Coleus hybridus Cobeau
  • Coleus igolotorum Briq.
  • Coleus ingratus (Blume) Benth.
  • Coleus integrifolius Elmer
  • Coleus laciniatus (Blume) Benth.
  • Coleus macranthus Merr.

and 62 more.

Flowers

In flower
July, September to May (from 66 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)

Photos

More in Coleus

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.