With its colorful foliage, the coleus is an ornament in the living room or in the summer garden. You can choose between different types and colors according to your taste. However, none of them are edible.
Are coleus poisonous to people and pets?
Coleus is slightly poisonous to humans and can cause itching and reddening of the skin in sensitive people. For pets such as dogs and cats, the danger is contradictory, but for pet birds and small rodents the coleus is poisonous or even fatal.
Very sensitive people may react to the touch of a coleus with itching and reddening of the skin. This is due to the essential oils it contains. Consumption leads to gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea and vomiting, but is usually rare.
The effect of coleus on dogs and cats is controversially discussed. As a precaution, you should keep a close eye on your animal or place your coleus out of reach. For ornamental birds and small rodents, coleus is actually poisonous or even fatal.
The most important things in brief:
- mildly toxic to humans
- can be very dangerous for small pets
Tip
Let your little ornamental bird fly freely in the room, then there shouldn't be any coleus there.
