Coleus Forskohlii: The Minty Family Plant Story Behind It

Among the four ingredients named on the CartiVex bottle artwork, Coleus Forskohlii Extract is probably the one most people have never met in the garden or the kitchen. It comes from a modest-looking plant with a surprisingly interesting family tree. This guide keeps to the plant story: its botany, where it grows, and the place it holds in herbal tradition. It does not describe any effect on the body.

A plant from the mint family

Coleus forskohlii belongs to the mint family, known to botanists as Lamiaceae. That family is famous for its aromatic leaves, square stems, and tidy pairs of leaves that grow opposite each other along the stem. Basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, and lavender are all relatives, so the plant sits in very good company.

Like many of its cousins, Coleus forskohlii is a perennial herb with a bushy habit. Its leaves are soft and slightly fuzzy, and it carries small flowers on upright spikes. The part of the plant most often discussed in connection with supplements is the root, which grows below the surface and has a distinctive, tapered shape.

Botanists have also used other scientific names for this plant over the years, and you may see it listed under a related name in older references. Plant classification is a living field, and names sometimes change as researchers learn more about relationships between species.

Where it grows

The plant is native to parts of India and Southeast Asia, and it thrives in warm regions with dry to moderately dry seasons. It likes well-drained soil and plenty of sun, and it is often found on hillsides and in rocky, open ground rather than in dense, wet forest.

Because it is hardy and adaptable, it has also been grown as a cultivated crop in places where the climate suits it. Farmers who grow it for its roots typically harvest after the plant has had a full season of growth, then clean and dry the roots before they move on to processing.

A place in herbal tradition

For centuries, plants in this group have appeared in traditional herbal practices in the regions where they grow. Coleus forskohlii is mentioned in that tradition, and it has been grown in home gardens and small farms across parts of South Asia. Historical use varies from region to region, and written records are not always consistent, so it is best to read any single account of its past as part of a larger story rather than a final word.

In recent decades the plant has become better known internationally because it is used as the source of a plant extract in dietary supplements. An extract, in general terms, is a concentrated preparation made by drawing compounds out of plant material using a solvent such as water or alcohol and then drying the result. Different makers use different methods, which is one reason it helps to read each product label carefully.

Related coleus plants in the garden

Gardeners may be surprised to learn that the name coleus is attached to a whole group of plants. Many of the bright, patterned ornamental coleus plants sold at garden centers, with their splashy red, lime, and burgundy leaves, are grown just for looks. They are not the same plant as Coleus forskohlii, even though the common name overlaps.

Here is a quick way to keep things straight:

• **Ornamental coleus** is grown for colorful foliage in pots and borders.
• **Coleus forskohlii** is the root-bearing herb associated with traditional use and with the extract named on the CartiVex materials.
• **Mint family cousins** such as basil and rosemary are the herbs you are most likely to use in the kitchen.

Gardeners sometimes spot the family resemblance in the leaves and stems before they ever check a label. If you enjoy growing herbs, a sunny windowsill with a few mint-family plants makes a lovely little project, and it is a fun way to see the family resemblance for yourself.

Why botanical names matter

Common names can be confusing, since one plant may go by several names and several plants may share one. That is why labels and reference books lean on the two-part botanical name, with the genus first and the species second. Knowing that Coleus forskohlii is a mint-family herb with a root of interest helps you tell it apart from the garden coleus in a pot on your porch, and it makes ingredient lists far less mysterious.

How to read an ingredient name on a label

Plant ingredients often appear with a botanical name, a common name, and a description of the part used or the form, such as "extract." When you see a name like Coleus Forskohlii Extract on a label, you are looking at the plant's scientific name followed by the form of the ingredient. Learning to read these names is a useful skill for any supplement shopper.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements consumer guide is a clear, plain-language resource on how supplements are described and what to look for. For the big picture, start with the what is CartiVex page. For more on how the brand presents its ingredients, see our CartiVex ingredients page, and for an easy tour of the other plants behind the formula, try Turmeric: The Golden Root From Field to Kitchen.

You can also read the FDA's overview of dietary supplements for general background on this product category in the United States.

Where Coleus Forskohlii appears in CartiVex

CartiVex is a dietary supplement in capsule form. Each bottle holds 30 capsules and is labeled a one month supply on the brand's graphic. The brand names four ingredients: Turmeric Root Extract, Turmeric Curcuminoids, Coleus Forskohlii Extract, and Black Pepper Extract. The brand does not publish amounts in the materials we reference, and this guide does not state any, so please follow the bottle label for product details.

The brand's artwork also shows Made in USA, FDA Registered, GMP Certified, and Natural Product badges, and its order materials mention a 60-day money-back guarantee. To see the current price and offer, along with pack options, visit the order page.

Check today's offer on the order page