Coleus
Also known as Bread and Butter Plant, Indian Borage, Spanish Thyme. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- depression
- anorexia
- occasionally bloody diarrhea or vomiting
No dog record in the index yet.
When to call the vet
Contact your vet if vomiting, diarrhea, depression, or anorexia persists or worsens after ingestion, or if bloody diarrhea or vomiting occurs.
FULL VERDICT →No dog record in the index yet.
Safe swaps, graded S0
Non-toxic on record for cats — verified against the index at build time.
FAQ
Which coleus does the ASPCA list for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA pairs Coleus, Bread and Butter Plant, Indian Borage, and Spanish Thyme with the scientific name "Coleus ampoinicus", and its toxicity line names both cats and dogs. This page's verdict covers that source-listed plant. If a label names a different plant and neither the ASPCA nor Pet Poison Helpline has an entry for it, we do not grade it. Check the scientific name on the label before applying this verdict.
Is Prostrate Coleus the same plant for cat and dog safety?
No. The ASPCA pairs Prostrate Coleus with Plectranthus oetendahlii, rather than the Coleus ampoinicus listed for Coleus. Its separate entry reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses". That statement covers the source-listed Plectranthus oetendahlii. It is outside this page's verdict, and we do not grade it here. Check the scientific name on the label.
Is Spanish Thyme the same plant as the thyme page for cats and dogs?
No. In the ASPCA's Spanish Thyme entry, the scientific name is Coleus ampoinicus. Our thyme record covers Thymus vulgaris, whose ASPCA entry reads "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses". The word thyme in a common name does not make these the same plant. See our thyme verdict for the Thymus vulgaris record.