Coleus Canina

[Garden Carpet]

Coleus canina is a great way of keeping local pets out of your garden. Cats and Dogs will avoid the Scardy Cat plant. coleus canina has excellent foliage and small attractive blue flowers in the summer. The coleus canina plant releases a scent that cats can't stand... fortunately it only smells to the human nose when touched!!


jaki

[smartie]

How interesting. I might try to get some and experiment on mine. I can always give them a bit of catnip afterwards to make up for it. But even cat lovers like me have bits of their gardens they would like the cats to steer clear of.

Now if you could only find something similar that deer hate, I'd be your friend for life.

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by smartie

How interesting. I might try to get some and experiment on mine. I can always give them a bit of catnip afterwards to make up for it. But even cat lovers like me have bits of their gardens they would like the cats to steer clear of.

Now if you could only find something similar that deer hate, I'd be your friend for life.

You mean you arent now???

[Tiggrx]

The correct name for this plant is Plectranthus caninus. It has appeared in nurseries over the last few years, usually sold as "scardy cat plant" or some similar name. It is also sometimes sold as a dog repellent (and the specific name means 'dog').

The leaves do have an unpleasant scent but according to a few reports I've read they have no effect in repelling cats or dogs.

I tried to grow it once but it died within days of having planted it out in the garden

[badgerwatcher]

Originally Posted by smartie

How interesting. I might try to get some and experiment on mine. I can always give them a bit of catnip afterwards to make up for it. But even cat lovers like me have bits of their gardens they would like the cats to steer clear of.

Now if you could only find something similar that deer hate, I'd be your friend for life.

Bears?

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

The correct name for this plant is Plectranthus caninus. It has appeared in nurseries over the last few years, usually sold as "scardy cat plant" or some similar name. It is also sometimes sold as a dog repellent (and the specific name means 'dog').

The leaves do have an unpleasant scent but according to a few reports I've read they have no effect in repelling cats or dogs.

I tried to grow it once but it died within days of having planted it out in the garden

I'm not familiar with this species, but am familiar with the genus, so would I be correct in assuming it would be frost tender?

[Garden Carpet]

From the Buckingham Nurseries website:

Coleus canina was bred in Germany (known there as Pxxx-Off Plant!) as a unique introduction to the animal deterrent market. It is a cross between Plectranthus and Coleus and was first cross bred in Australia by an amateur home gardener. As it is not frost hardy you will have to re-plant every year, but if you have an area you can keep frost tender plants in the winter it roots easily from soft shoot cuttings. We shall be interested to have feed back from anyone who purchases some of these plants.

Aeshna Hope that helps

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

From the Buckingham Nurseries website:

Coleus canina was bred in Germany (known there as Pxxx-Off Plant!) as a unique introduction to the animal deterrent market. It is a cross between Plectranthus and Coleus and was first cross bred in Australia by an amateur home gardener. As it is not frost hardy you will have to re-plant every year, but if you have an area you can keep frost tender plants in the winter it roots easily from soft shoot cuttings. We shall be interested to have feed back from anyone who purchases some of these plants.

Aeshna Hope that helps

Thanks Jaki- I thought it probably was, nice to have it confirmed!

[smartie]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Bears?

Good idea in principle, of course, but Derek (husband) is terrified of bears. I'd lose him as well as the deer. Hmm, now I give it more thought, though......

ps: if he reads this thread I'm in trouble!!

[Boddie]

Just bumping this thread in case my Old Queen has not seen it. She hates cats in the garden