Catnip Nepeta
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Catnip:
- Phonetic Spelling
- NEP-eh-tuh
- Description
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Catmint is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family that has a number of species and hybrids. Catmint originated in Temperate Eurasia and Macaronesia to Eastern Tropical Africa. It came to be called catmint owing to having a strong scent that cats find attractive.
Catmint requires full sun and good drainage. It is drought tolerant once established. It is less picky about its soil and will grow in clay, loam, sandy, or shallow rocky soil. When flowers begin to fade, shear them off to encourage new growth and another wave of flowering. Catmint has a clumping habit. Propagate it by division or seed.
As a garden plant, catmint acts as a repellent for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs. The minty-flavored leaves are edible.
Catmint's spreading form makes it a good choice for meadows, naturalized areas, and cottage gardens. It works well in containers, planted along walkways, or nestled between rocks in a rock garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems though it can be a bit weedy.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Dwarf'
Copious blue flowers on upright spikes - 'Blue Wonder'
- 'Early Bird'
- 'Limelight'
- 'Six Hills Giant'
Used in England - 'Walker's Low'
N. x faasenii
- 'Blue Dwarf'
- 'Blue Dwarf', 'Blue Wonder', 'Early Bird', 'Limelight', N. cataria, N. x faasenii, 'Six Hills Giant', 'Walker's Low'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Dwarf'
Copious blue flowers on upright spikes - 'Blue Wonder'
- 'Early Bird'
- 'Limelight'
- 'Six Hills Giant'
Used in England - 'Walker's Low'
N. x faasenii
- 'Blue Dwarf'
- 'Blue Dwarf', 'Blue Wonder', 'Early Bird', 'Limelight', N. cataria, N. x faasenii, 'Six Hills Giant', 'Walker's Low'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nepeta
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- As a garden plant, catnip acts as a repellent for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temperate. Eurasia, Macaronesia to Eastern Tropical Africa
- Distribution:
- Much of Canada and US
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies.
- Edibility:
- Herbal teas from leaves. Fresh leaves (minty flavor) may be chopped and added to soups, stews, sauces, vegetables, or pasta
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Long ovoid smooth or ribbed nutlets
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, two-lipped, white (with pale purple spotting) flowers (1/4" long) bloom in spike-like terminal clusters at the stem ends from late spring well into summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-inch aromatic grey-green leaves have downy stems and leaves which help give the plant its grey-green appearance.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Downy stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Weedy
