15 Solenostemon scutellarioides / Coleus blumei Seeds - Painted Nettle - Psychoactive Perennial

Coleus blumei, now known as Solenostemon scutellarioides is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to South East Asia and Malaysia. Growing to 60–75 cm tall and wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen perennial, widely grown for its highly decorative variegated leaves. Another common name is "painted nettle", reflecting the deadnettle family to which it belongs.

It has been reported to have mild relaxing and/or hallucinogenic effects when consumed. The effects of the Coleus plant have not been explored very much by modern scientists but the plant has been known to have been used by the Mazatec Indians of southern Mexico who have a history of consuming this plant for its mind-altering effects. It is not known what psychoactive chemical(s) exist in the Coleus blumei plant, as there has been very little research on the subject.

Some people have claimed that they have experienced hallucinogenic effects from chewing several dozen fresh coleus leaves as a quid or brewing them to make a tea, although others have reported feeling no effects at all. Several authors of internet-hosted trip reports have claimed that smoking dried coleus leaves causes effects similar to smoking dried Salvia divinorum leaves, and the active compounds in the two plants may have similar chemical structures. However, some authors claim that only the fresh leaves of the Coleus blumei plant are psychoactive.