Plant guide
Bloodleaf
Iresine herbstii
Bloodleaf is considered non-toxic to cats. Its colorful foliage works in a sunny room or summer container. Confirm the botanical name because “Joseph’s coat” is shared with unrelated plants.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: Iresine herbstii only. Confirm the botanical label; a photograph cannot identify a visitor’s specimen.
Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Iresine herbstii
By Leonora (Ellie) Enking
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
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Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Iresine herbstii
By Leonora (Ellie) Enking
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Bloodleaf plants
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Non-toxic does not mean edible. Chewing plants can still upset your cat’s stomach.
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Look for Iresine herbstii and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Iresine herbstii
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Iresine herbstii only; the care categories summarize the cited growing guidance.
- Light
- Sunny position
Choose a sunny position.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Keep soil evenly moist, with less water during cooler seasons.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
A preferred numerical growing range was not established in the reviewed source.
- Potting
- Use moist, well-drained soil.
- Through the year
- Pinch the tops for bushier growth; remove flower buds when growing it mainly for foliage.
Growing-guide sources
- Iresine herbstii identity and growing guidance ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Exact named plant; outdoor and seasonal conditions retain their original context. Temperature coverage records that this review did not establish a preferred numerical growing range; it does not supply one.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Bloodleaf cat/pet safety reference ↗ASPCA · Accessed
ASPCA explicitly names Iresine herbstii. NC State treats it as the previous name of Iresine diffusa f. herbstii; its care and photo refer to that same bloodleaf plant. This proposal keeps the familiar species name with the synonym disclosed.
- Bloodleaf: supporting reference ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Safety last reviewed .