Coleus (Painted nettle) Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 2 min read| 2,917 found this helpful

No documented toxicity of Coleus has been found in peer-reviewed research for humans, cats, dogs, or horses.

While non-toxic, Coleus is not approved or recommended for use as feed for any pets or livestock.

Coleus can be visually confused with other non-toxic Plectranthus species and Urtica (stinging nettle) species.

FAQ

Is Coleus (Painted nettle) toxic to Humans?

No documented adverse symptoms reported; rare mild skin or digestive allergic reactions may occur in sensitive individuals (Non-toxic)

Is Coleus (Painted nettle) toxic to Cats?

No reported toxicity symptoms in cats from accidental ingestion of small quantities (Non-toxic)

Is Coleus (Painted nettle) toxic to Dogs?

No reported toxicity symptoms in dogs from accidental ingestion of small quantities (Non-toxic)

Is Coleus (Painted nettle) toxic to Horses?

No reported toxicity symptoms in horses from accidental ingestion of small quantities (Non-toxic)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

Non-toxic

No documented adverse symptoms reported; rare mild skin or digestive allergic reactions may occur in sensitive individuals

Cats

Non-toxic

No reported toxicity symptoms in cats from accidental ingestion of small quantities

Dogs

Non-toxic

No reported toxicity symptoms in dogs from accidental ingestion of small quantities

Horses

Non-toxic

No reported toxicity symptoms in horses from accidental ingestion of small quantities

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsNo toxic plant parts identified in existing research; entire plant is classified as non-toxic but not suitable for consumption as feed

Exposure RouteNo toxic exposure routes documented; accidental ingestion of small amounts is not associated with adverse health effects

Toxic CompoundsNo toxic phytochemical compounds linked to this species have been identified in published studies

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Rinse mouth with clean water to remove any remaining plant residue after ingestion
• Monitor for 1-2 hours for rare idiosyncratic allergic reactions in sensitive individuals or pets
• No emergency intervention is required for typical small accidental ingestion

Contact Vet Immediately

• If your pet shows unusual symptoms (vomiting, persistent rash, lethargy) after ingesting very large quantities of the plant
• If you cannot confirm the ingested plant is correctly identified as non-toxic Coleus

Prevention

• Do not feed Coleus to any pets or livestock, as it is not formulated for animal consumption
• Keep potted Coleus out of reach of teething puppies/kittens to avoid unnecessary large ingestion
• Learn to distinguish Coleus from toxic lookalike plants if grown in areas accessible to pets or livestock

Treatment & Prognosis

• Supportive care only for rare allergic reactions if they present
• No specific targeted treatment is required for standard accidental ingestion of this non-toxic plant

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NamePlectranthus scutellarioides (L.) R.Br.

AliasesColeus blumei Benth.、Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd、Buntnessel (German)、Coléus (French)、Vieux garçon (French)

Toxicity Grade

HumansNon-toxic

CatsNon-toxic

DogsNon-toxic

HorsesNon-toxic

Target Organs

No organs are at known risk of damage from exposure to this non-toxic species

Mechanism of Action

• No toxic physiological mechanism has been identified, as no adverse toxicity effects linked to this plant are documented

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Livestock (cattle, sheep, goats): No toxicity reported, but the plant is not suitable for use as regular feed and may cause mild digestive upset if consumed in large amounts

Small companion mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters): No documented adverse effects from small accidental ingestion, but large quantities may cause mild digestive distress

Pet birds: No reported toxicity cases from Coleus exposure, though ingestion of large amounts is not recommended

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Other Plectranthus species Plectranthus spp.

Visually similar foliage and growth habit to Coleus; all documented Plectranthus species in this group are non-toxic, with no key safety differences for casual exposure

Nettle species Urtica spp.

Similar serrated leaf shape to Coleus; Urtica species have sharp stinging hairs on their foliage that Coleus lacks, though both groups are classified as non-toxic

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Related Toxic Plants

Pennyroyal

Mentha pulegium

Moderate toxicity, can cause organ failure in humans and pets if ingested in large quantities

Perilla mint

Perilla frutescens

High toxicity, can be fatal to cattle, horses and other livestock if consumed even in small amounts

Common germander

Teucrium chamaedrys

Moderate toxicity, causes severe irreversible liver damage with prolonged or large ingestion

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Data Sources

1. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.