General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Plant Height: Up to 24 inches
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Evergreen
Flower Color: Blue
Other: Pale blue
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Layering
Division
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Image
Common names
  • Scaredy Cat Plant
  • Cat Repellent Plant
  • Dogs Be Gone
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Plectranthus caninus
  • Synonym: Coleus spicatus
  • Synonym: Coleus caninus
  • Synonym: Coleus canina

Photo Gallery
Location: Botanic Garden, Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Date: 10.03.21
Intriguing flower of "Scaredy Cat" plant
Location: Botanic Garden, Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Date: 10.03.21
Flower emerges as unusual bud with "horns"
Location: My garden in Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Date: 10.03.21
This aromatic coleus cousin is reputed to repel animals
Location: SunZone 6a
Date: 2017-11-04
Location: Botanic Garden, Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Date: 10.03.21
Fleshy stalk and leaves feel almost like a succulent
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-08-16
Plectranthus caninus 002
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Oct 11, 2012 
Leaves thickened and curled up from drought. Gives the appearance
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Apr 30, 2012
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by valleylynn (Oregon City, OR - Zone 8b) on May 31, 2012 6:24 PM concerning plant:
    Strong aroma that repels most cats and dogs. Plant in a container to move around to problem areas.

    Plectranthus caninus is an herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to east Africa and southern Asia.

    These plants root easily from cuttings or from just touching the ground. They like full sun. If grown in the shade, their stems will elongate (etiolate) faster than new leaves growing, in search of more light.

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