Description
Catnip is a perennial medicinal herb in the Lamiaceae or mint family. Nepeta cataria‘s medicinal use is documented back to the early 1700s where its dried flowers were infused in tea. While best known to drive cats crazy, its therapeutic uses for humans include treatment of cough, sore throat, fever, headache, diarrhea, asthma, toothache, nervousness, colic, and topically to help heal wounds. Catnip also prevents the formation of, and helps to relieve, gas in the digestive tract. Combine Catnip with lemon balm and chamomile for a soothing tea. Like many members of the mint family, Catnip plants have strong medicinal properties: it’s antispasmodic, anti-flatulent, carminative, diaphoretic, nervine, and mild sedative. The profuse purple spikes of flowers produced by Catnip attract scores of bees and butterflies to the garden. Additionally, as a companion plant, Nepeta has potent pest repelling action, making it perfect for the vegetable garden. In fact, the nepetalactone oil in Catnip has been proven to be more effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes.
Download our Catnip PDF Reference sheet.
Growing Notes:
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full Sun | Afternoon Shade
Mature Height: 18-36″ | Spread 12-18″
Bloom: Purple/White | Mid-Late Summer
We recommend growing this aromatic herb in containers as it may become invasive.
ORDER ONLINE FOR LOCAL PICKUP ONLY at our Talking Rock Greenhouse. Text 770-519-5173 or click here to set a pickup appointment.
All Catnip grown Herb & Vine are sown from organic seed in organic soil. We do not use chemicals; and we water naturally with rain water.
IMPORTANT: Information on this website is based on research of the historical uses of this herb and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a medical professional before using any herb for therapeutic purposes. Do not take if pregnant or nursing.
