Botanical name
Plectranthus caninus
Other names
Scat, Scaredy cat, Scaredy plant, Cat repellant plant, Dogs be gone coleus, Coleus canina, Piss-off plant, Coleus spicatus, Dogbane
Genus
Plectranthus
Species
P. caninus – P. caninus is a tender, mat-forming, stem-rooting, evergreen perennial, typically grown as an annual, with whorled, unpleasantly aromatic, narrowly ovate to spoon-shaped, sparsely-toothed, wrinkled, light green leaves and upright stems bearing racemes of whorled, tubular, violet-blue flowers in summer.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Mat Forming, Erect flower stem
Toxicity
All parts are poisonous if ingested. Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction. Pollen may cause allergic reaction.
COLOUR
Flower
Violet in Spring; Violet in Summer
Foliage
Grey-green in All seasons
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Pinch out growing tips to create a bushier, more compact habit.
Propagation
Stem tip cuttings root easily.
Propagation methods
Seed, Stem tip cuttings
WHERE TO GROW
Plectranthus caninus (Scat) will reach a height of 0.45m and a spread of 0.9m after 1 year.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Greenhouse, Underplanting
Cultivation
Plant outdoors after danger of frost has passed in well-drained soil in full sun. Treat as an annual or overwinter indoors. Reported to repel cats and rabbits in the garden.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
