Catnip

Growing Conditions

Growing Zones

Thrives in USDA Zones 3 - 9

Companion Planting

When to Plant

• Start Indoors

  6 to 8 weeks before last frost

• Transplant

  After last frost, once soil is consistently warm

• Direct Sow

  Direct sow in early spring after last frost or in fall for spring germination

• Harvest

  Harvest stems and leaves once plants are well established and flowering begins; cut back by one-third to encourage fresh growth and repeat harvests throughout the season

Organic Growing Tips

• Top-dress with finished compost in spring to fuel vigorous new growth without overly enriching the soil, which can reduce aromatic oil concentration

• Apply a thin layer of straw mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress competing weeds without smothering the crown

• A diluted compost tea drench in early spring encourages beneficial soil microbes and supports strong root establishment after winter

• Cut plants back by one-half after the first flush of flowers to stimulate a second round of fresh aromatic growth

• Avoid nitrogen-heavy organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion applied late in the season, as excess nitrogen promotes leafy growth but weakens essential oil content

• Interplant with roses or squash as a companion; catnip's volatile oils are thought to deter aphids and flea beetles in organic garden settings

Common Pests

• aphids
• flea beetles
• spider mites
• cats

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Family

Mint family (Lamiaceae)

Genus

Nepeta

Species

cataria

Natural History

Nepeta cataria is native to central Europe, the Middle East, and central Asia, where it colonizes disturbed ground, roadsides, and waste places. It spread westward through Europe and arrived in North America with early colonists, quickly naturalizing across the continent. The genus name Nepeta likely derives from Nepete, an ancient Etruscan city noted for the plant in Roman records. Nepetalactone, the terpenoid responsible for the famous feline response, is produced in glandular trichomes on the leaves and appears to have evolved as an insect deterrent - fact growers can leverage, as the compound also repels aphids and flea beetles.

Traditional Use

Catnip leaves and flowering tops have a documented history in European herbal traditions, appearing in medieval texts and early modern herbals as a plant associated with calming and fever-related complaints. Nicholas Culpeper's 17th-century English herbal described it as a plant applied to ease various nervous complaints, and American folk traditions adopted it widely for infant colic. Its use as a mild herb was prevalent enough that catnip was one of the most commonly grown dooryard herbs in colonial North America.

• English herbal tradition, Nicholas Culpeper, 17th century - leaves and flowering tops

  Culpeper's Complete Herbal (1653) documented catnip leaves and tops as a plant associated with easing nervous conditions and described its use in European domestic medicine of the period.

• Colonial American folk tradition, 17th to 19th century - leaves

  Catnip was widely cultivated in colonial dooryard gardens and recorded in domestic accounts as a plant prepared for infants and young children, particularly in connection with colic and restlessness.

• Native American ethnobotanical records, various nations - leaves

  Several Native American groups encountered naturalized catnip and incorporated it into their herbal practices; ethnobotanical records note its use in connection with fevers and childhood ailments among groups in the northeastern United States.

Catnip is generally considered safe for culinary and tea use in moderate amounts; large quantities may cause mild nausea in some individuals. The plant is non-toxic to humans but should be used with awareness that it triggers strong behavioral responses in cats, which can lead to plant damage and animal injury from excited behavior.

This information is provided for historical and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions related to your health.

Morphology (Plant Structure & Identification)

• Root System

  Fibrous, spreading root system with shallow rhizomes that allow the plant to expand gradually and regenerate vigorously after cutting; clumps can be divided in spring or fall to propagate or contain spread.

• Stem

  Square, branching stems typical of the mint family, covered in soft gray-green hairs that give the whole plant a downy texture; stems become woody at the base of established plants and should be cut back hard in early spring to encourage fresh productive growth.

• Leaves

  Heart-shaped to ovate leaves with scalloped margins, covered in fine soft hairs that give them a pale gray-green appearance; the minty-earthy scent intensifies when leaves are bruised, which is a reliable identification marker and the trigger for cat attraction.

• Flowers

  Small, tubular white flowers with purple spotting are produced in dense whorled clusters along the upper stems from midsummer into fall; they are highly attractive to bees, wasps, and beneficial predatory insects, making catnip a valuable companion plant in the organic garden.

• Fruit

  After flowering, plants produce small nutlets typical of the mint family; catnip self-seeds prolifically if spent flower heads are not removed, and unwanted seedlings can spread well beyond the original planting within a season or two.

Known Varieties

Common cultivars worth knowing

• Nepeta cataria (straight species)

  The common wild-type catnip with the strongest nepetalactone content; most attractive to cats and most aromatic for tea and companion planting use.

  Best for: Cat gardens, tea, companion planting, pollinators

• 'Citriodora'

  A lemon-scented cultivar of Nepeta cataria with a more citrusy fragrance profile; less intensely attractive to cats than the straight species but valued for culinary tea use.

  Best for: Herbal tea, cooking, growers wanting reduced cat damage

• Nepeta faassenii (catmint)

  A sterile hybrid closely related to catnip, with finer blue-lavender flowers and a more compact, tidy habit; does not self-seed aggressively and is less potent for cats but is an exceptional ornamental and pollinator plant.

  Best for: Ornamental borders, pollinator gardens, low-maintenance edging

• 'Six Hills Giant'

  A large Nepeta faassenii selection reaching 24 to 36 inches, with an exceptional flower display and mounding habit suitable for mixed borders or mass plantings.

  Best for: Large borders, pollinator plantings, cut flowers