Coleus Canina Guide: How to Care for the Scaredy-Cat Plant

The scaredy-cat plant (botanical name Coleus canina or Plectranthus caninus) is a tender perennial member of the mint family. Like painted nettle and other foliage plants of the family Lamiaceae, this Coleus plant gives off a strong odor. But instead of the refreshing scent of mint, this plant produces a repelling smell that can range from something akin to dog urine to that of skunk spray.

According to folklore, establishing this live plant in flower beds will deter cats and other animals from harming your garden. However, there is little hard evidence that the plant is an effective form of cat repellent.

Coleus canina plants are primarily outdoor plants, but you can also grow them successfully indoors as houseplants as long as you keep a few things in mind. Whether you plan on growing yours inside or out, here are a few key considerations:

• Climate: Coleus canina are native to the dry climates of Eastern Africa and South Africa and are therefore drought-tolerant, capable of thriving in areas with full sun and partial shade.
• Disease and pests: Root rot is a difficult issue to remedy once it spreads; therefore, avoid watering your plant too frequently in a poor draining soil. Additionally, keep an eye out for aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites—you can treat the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap at the first sign of an infestation.
• Pruning: Pinch off the blue flowers after the blooms are spent and prune any dead leaves to prevent the plant from getting leggy. With careful pruning, the plants will remain an attractively even ground cover.
• Soil: These plants can grow in common potting soil, but if you are in USDA Hardiness Zones where frost might be an issue, you can plant the crowns in mulch to help protect and overwinter them.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.