Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a hardy perennial herb famous for the euphoric effect it has on cats, while also being useful as a soothing herbal tea for humans. With fragrant, gray-green leaves and spikes of small lavender flowers, Catnip is both ornamental and functional. It is easy to grow in gardens or containers, attracts pollinators, and thrives with minimal care year after year.
Seed Information
-
Type: Herb Seeds
-
Common Name: Catnip
-
Genus: Nepeta
-
Species: Nepeta cataria
-
Life Cycle: Perennial
-
Features: Fragrant foliage, cat attractant, herbal tea use, pollinator friendly, ornamental herb
-
Season of Interest: Summer blooming
-
Indoor/Outdoor: Both (containers, outdoor beds, herbal gardens)
-
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
-
Cultivating Difficulty: Easy
-
Watering: Moderate, drought tolerant once mature
-
Climate: Temperate, Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical
-
Growth Habit: Upright spreading perennial, 18–36 in tall
-
Soil Type: Well-draining, sandy or loamy soils
-
Soil pH: 6.0–7.5
-
Planting Time: Spring after frost or fall in mild climates
Grow Instructions
-
When to Plant: Sow indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost or direct sow outdoors in spring
-
Soil: Well-draining sandy or loamy soil
-
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
-
Watering: Water moderately; allow soil to dry slightly between watering
-
Spacing: 12–18 inches apart
-
Germination: 10–20 days at 65–75°F (18–24°C)
-
Harvest: Leaves can be harvested once plants are 6–8 in tall; best flavor before flowering
-
Tips: Trim regularly to encourage bushy growth; grow in containers to prevent spreading