Swedish ivy
Plectranthus verticillatus
Also called Creeping charlie and Swedish begonia
Houseplant · Patterned foliageNeither Swedish nor an ivy. Pinch the tips often and it stays a full mound instead of a tangle.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 6 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Tender — no frost at all RHS H2, to 1°C
- Size
- 0.1 m tall · 0.75 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Southern Africa
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The crown thins to bare stems while the trails keep growing — pinch the tips out young or the plant hollows in the centre.Bare middle · disorder
- White cotton specks at the leaf joints on the square stems, usually on the trails resting against a wall.Mealybug · pest