Catnip (Nepeta cataria) in the Catmints Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic Dry Mesic Dry
Soil pH Preferences:	Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0) Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 9b
Plant Height:	12 inches to 18 inches (20-30 cm)
Plant Spread:	12 inches to 24 inches
Leaves:	Unusual foliage color Fragrant Other: Green to gray-green heart shaped leaves appear opposite along the stems.
Flowers:	Showy Fragrant
Flower Color:	Pink White Other: With spots of pale purple.
Bloom Size:	1"-2"
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall Fall
Underground structures:	Taproot
Uses:	Groundcover Culinary Herb Medicinal Herb Will Naturalize Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Butterflies Hummingbirds
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Humidity tolerant Drought tolerant
Toxicity:	Other: while not toxic to cats, too much of the fresh plant will cause a overstimulated nervous system, causing vomiting and diahhrea.
Propagation: Seeds:	Depth to plant seed: cover the seeds thin Suitable for wintersowing Sow in situ Start indoors Can handle transplanting
Pollinators:	Bees
Containers:	Suitable in 1 gallon Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots

Victory Seed Company sells seeds of Catnip (Nepeta cataria).

Common names

Catnip
Catwort
Field Balm
Catmint

Photo Gallery

Uploaded by Hemlady

Location: Murray, Utah, United States
Date: 2018-04-11

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2017-06-05
#Pollination - The honey bees are loving these blooms!

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Location: N. Illinois, zone 5b
Date: 6 April 2014

Uploaded by holity

Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2015-09-20
#Pollination

Uploaded by dirtdorphins

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2015-04-30

Uploaded by wildflowers

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2013-08-08

Uploaded by wildflowers

Location: Brownstown PA 17508
Date: 2020-05-25

Uploaded by nativeplantlover

Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2018-06-20

Uploaded by janinilulu

Location: My Garden in Kalama, Wa
Date: 2016-05-03

Uploaded by Joy

Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2009-08-25

Uploaded by JonnaSudenius

Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2015-04-30
close up of leaf with backside of leaf in background

Uploaded by wildflowers

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Mason, New Hampshire
Date: 2012
Catnip seedling started from seed. 2012

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by vic

Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2021-09-02

Uploaded by BlueOddish

Location: La Crescenta, CA
Date: 2017-07-02

Uploaded by JulieB

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-04-13

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Location: Yukon, Oklahoma
Date: 2012-05-22

Uploaded by keyi

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by christinereid54

Location: Garfield, WA
Date: 2011-04-18
Wild catnip leaves in a sunny location.

Uploaded by Cakeholemoon

Uploaded by MrGrimGarden

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by molanic

Location: N. Illinois, zone 5b
Date: 22 May 2014
Not safe outside its chicken wire. :)

Uploaded by holity

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by keithp2012

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 7/28/2011
Catnip in bloom

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5
Date: 2011-09-30

Uploaded by chelle

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Date: 2016-08-21
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.

Uploaded by Lalambchop1

Uploaded by vic

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-07-27

Uploaded by Joy

Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2009-09-30

Uploaded by JonnaSudenius

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2014-03-23
Catnip start growing in a vertical garden container. Will be inte

Uploaded by beckygardener

Location: Heathcote Ontario Canada
Date: 2009 summer
Nepeta cataria many blooms

Uploaded by Permastake

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Nov 27, 2011 5:49 AM concerning plant:

Nepetalactone, the oil in Catnip, is a mosquito, fly, roach, and termite repellant. This perennial plant also has a history as a medicinal herb. The natural oil within the leaves has been proven to be ten times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes.  

Reply to this comment
Posted by robertduval14 (Milford, New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Mar 3, 2013 9:04 PM concerning plant:

Can be very invasive. Be careful about where you decide to plant it if you don't want it to get out of control.

Reply to this comment
Posted by LindaTX8 (Medina Co., TX - Zone 8a) on Nov 28, 2011 11:39 AM concerning plant:

Well...this species is a favorite of cats! They love it fresh or dry! Plants must be protected or the cats will 'love it to death'!

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
carlysuko	On April 30, 2018	Obtained plant From La Costa Anderson's Nursery
antsinmypants	On March 22, 2023	Seeds sown 2 large pots for the cats.
Mielikki	On September 8, 2021	Obtained plant

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Fantastic Photo by Tree_climber	Feb 19, 2014 8:26 AM	2

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Catmints Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catmints

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)