Start growing
High light and well-drained soil. Can be aggressive in the garden.
GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.
THE PLANT NOTEBOOK
Catnip care, from seed onward.
- Botanical name
- Nepeta cataria
- Common names
- Cataria, Catmint
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Nepeta
- Species
- N. cataria
Growing with your kit
Perfect for the 'Pet Parent' demo! The Seeds In A Cup® kit allows you to grow fresh organic treats for your cats.
Propagation
By seed or division.
Seasonal growth & harvest
Blooms mid-summer; harvest leaves as flowers begin to open for highest potency.
Growing conditions
Hedgebanks, roadsides, and wasteland.
Weather & tolerances
High drought tolerance and extremely winter hardy.
Pests & plant health
Generally pest-free; in fact, it repels many insects.
Plant safety
Safe for humans and cats.
Botanical features
A perennial herb with grayish-green leaves and small spotted white/purple flowers. Contains nepetalactone.
Varieties
‘Citriodora’ (Lemon Catnip).
Garden & everyday uses
Feline stimulant. human herbal tea for relaxation. insect repellent
Native range & distribution
Native to Europe, Central Asia, and parts of China.
Conservation
Widespread and secure.
Name origins
Named after the Etruscan city Neptic; ‘cataria’ from the Latin for cat.
History
Used in traditional European medicine as a sedative and digestive aid long before it was famous for cats.