Nepeta cataria
Catnip is a flowering perennial in theNepetagenus .
This easy - to - produce herbaceous plant makes a valuable addition to the garden , with a wide range of available uses from culinary spice to therapeutical tea for indigestion , cold , and other ailments .
And of course of instruction , your cats will be thrilled to have refreshed catnip around !
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Continue reading to learn more about growing and using catmint .
What You’ll Learn
What Is Catnip?
unfearing inUSDA Hardiness Zones3 through 9 , catnip is a perennial herbaceous plant with a clumping growth habit that can reach a few feet tall and all-encompassing .
It has hearty stems standardised to other fellow member of the mint crime syndicate , as well as grey-headed - green jagged leaves , and spindle of lowly white or faint pinkish flowers with pale purple specks .
It is sometimes confused with catmint ( Nepeta mussinii ) , which has purplish flush and is less weedy in appearance , reach it a more popular choice for landscaping .
you may learn more about thedifferences between catnip and catmint in our guide .
Cultivation and History
aboriginal to parts of Europe , Asia , and Africa , N. catariahas cultivate widely around the globe .
Its first documented economic consumption in North America was in the 1800s , where it was used as a culinary herbaceous plant .
It also has a long history of medicative use , peculiarly in small fry experiencing griping , stress , fevers , and belly aches . Catnip tea leaf is promptly useable for sales agreement , often marketed as an herb for digestive support , or it can be made at rest home .
But the most common place where you will find catnip these days is in a best-loved store , stuffed into kat toys , concentrate in sprays , or sprinkled on scratching posts .
It is rumour around the internet that ancient Egyptians may have been the first to give Nepeta cataria to cats , though there is no documented evidence to keep going this .
The temporary euphoria experienced by many Arabian tea is in reality due to a volatile oil called nepetalactone that the herb carry .
It is cogitate that this compound binds to adenoidal sensory receptor and stimulate sensory nerve cell in felid , resulting in a chain of ridiculous reactions such as rolling around on the earth , run into thing , and drooling .
It does n’t produce the same reaction in man .
Catnip Plant Propagation
Catnip is well-situated to circulate , and plants can be started in a number of unlike way .
From Seed
Before planting , it is best to cold stratify the come by placing them in the freezer overnight , and then soaking them in water for 12 to 24 hours . This aid them to germinate more cursorily .
Four to eight weeks before the last predicted frost in your area , prepare three- to four - inch mint with seed - start mix and sprinkle a few seeds on top , pressing them lightly into the dirt . Barely shroud the seeds , as light aids germination .
Once implant , keep the soil evenly moist until seedling appear , and then set up the pots undergrow lightsor in a sunny window . Thin them to the strongest seedling in each pot .
you could also direct sow come in a garden bed with about an in of constitutional issue mixed in . pitter-patter the cum on the territory surface , pressing them gently into the stain .
Keep the grunge moist until seedling appear , and then melt off them to about 18 inch .
Division and Cuttings
you could also easily circularize catmint by division and from cuttings . Check outour template to growing catmintfor step by whole tone instructions that are the same for allNepetaplants .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
Whether you start from seed , take cuttings from an survive industrial plant , or purchase greenhouse stock , catnip should be planted out in the garden after the danger of frost has passed .
located seedlings in hole dug to fit the depth of the roots , spacing them about 18 in apart . Water them in well .
How to Grow Catnip Plants
Grow in full sun , in a emplacement that receives at least six time of day of sunlight per day . Afternoon shade can be helpful in hot climates .
Catnip is kind of a all-encompassing range of soil types as long as it is well run out . Though this is not expect , it is utilitarian to flux an inch or so of compost into the garden seam to supply a rise of nutrients .
Provide about aninch of H2O a weekfor the first year . launch industrial plant are drought patient of and will only postulate piss during long wry spells . There is no need for added fertilizer .
Add leaf , shuck , or rip up barque mulch to improve drainage , exert wet , and suppress green goddess .
Keep in judgment that this herb is an aggressive grower , and it may spread if it ’s not kept in verification . It can therefore be beneficial to grow it in araised bedor container to reduce the jeopardy of spreading .
If you ’re grow yours in a container , follow the instructions delineate above in the section on propagating from germ , being sure to fix the pot in a gay spot outdoors or on a south - facing windowsill .
Indoor plants should be spread out every few day to prevent legginess and flex toward the light .
reserve potted plants to dry out out between watering , and then saturate the stain until water seeps out of the drain hole .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
After flowering , you may trim plants back by about a third . This will help to revive straggly leaf and may encourage repeated bloom .
Dividing mature plants once a season can also help to keep plant from spreading too aggressively .
During the fall or bounce , use a garden spade to slit vertically through the solution to dissever a section away from the plant , and dig it up . you could replant variance in the garden , compostthem , or give them to a champion .
Where to Buy
Catnip seeds in packets of 100 can be purchasedfrom Earthbeat Seeds .
come number in packets of 510 or 770 .
Cat Lover ’s Collection
If you are looking for a fun gift for your kitty , you’re able to alsopurchase their Cat Lover ’s Collection , which includes organic catnip seeds as well as four different kitty grass and oats blend , all of which can be grown indoors year round .
Managing Pests and Disease
There is n’t too much to worry about with Nepeta cataria in terms of pests and disease . Essential fossil oil produced by this hardy perennial can actually deter many common garden pest .
It is still prudent to keep an eye out for periodic damage from pests such asslugs , wanderer mite , andwhiteflies . Unless infestations are serious , pests can be handpicked or removed with a strong stream of water .
Curious outdoor cats can also be a problem if works are n’t well protected by fencing .
Bacterial leaf spot and fungal disease such as septoria leaf spot and origin rotting may cause issues during cool , wet atmospheric condition .
Be sure to bring home the bacon good drainage , avoid overwatering , and mulch to keep weeds down . And always hit and dispose of septic plants .
For more specifics onidentifying and treatingNepetapests and disease , our scout to growing catmint cover the same common issues .
Catnip Harvesting, Preservation, and Storage
Harvest the folio and flowers when plants are blooming in the summer .
While leaves can be reap earlier in the season , unfolding increases the engrossment of oils in the foliage , improving their flavor and therapeutic benefit .
you’re able to harvest small sum as need , or up to a third of the plant at a metre , bring down the top third of each stem turn .
Both the flowers and the leave of absence are eatable and they can be used smart , or dry out in tea and as a culinary spiciness .
Dry your harvest home by string up the stems in bundles in a dark , wry location until the leaves crumble well between your fingers .
Store dried catnip in a tightly lidded jounce in a sour console , and use it for teatime – or to make toys for your cat !
Get elaborate instructions on dry out and storing herbs here .
Fresh leaves and flower are best if used the right way away , but they can be lay in in a zippered bag in the icebox for a few day , like what you might do with peppermint .
Best Uses
There are lots of ideas out there on how to make catnip toy . The easiest one I have found is to pour some dried catnip into an old wind sleeve , and link it up .
My cats go so catnip crazy , we have to keep our toys in a highly safe location between uses .
In addition to provide merriment for our feline Quaker , catnip has many United States of America for human race as well .
A relaxing aromatic herbaceous plant , catnip is commonly steeped as a tea to help with stress and insomnia , as well as for digestive reenforcement .
Because it is safe and modest , it is often given to children hurt from colic , fever , and uneasy tummy aches .
While a less common culinary herb , the leaves and flower can be used sparingly in cooking , and have a somewhat alike savor to mint , though with a bit of a inviolable bitterness .
Nepetalactone is also insecticidal , and can be used as a natural insect repellent .
Along these same lines , growing some in the veggie garden could also help to discourage pests such ascabbage loopers , squash bugs , andflea mallet .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Grow It for the Cats
Catnip is a fantastic , stout herbaceous plant to have growing in the garden .
Whether you are hoping to deter pesterer from your veg patch , wish to enjoy a cup of console herbal tea , or desire to surprise your kitty with a gift of fresh Nepeta cataria , this is one plant that ’s deserving have around !
Want to learn about growing othermint familyspecies ? You wo n’t desire to miss these articles :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . earlier published November 6 , 2021 . Last update February 28 , 2023 . mathematical product photos via Botanical Interests and Earthbeat Seeds . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
The stave at Gardener ’s Path are not aesculapian professionals and this article should not be construe as medical advice intended to value , diagnose , prescribe , or promise curative . Gardener ’s Path and Ask the expert , LLC assume no financial obligation for the exercise or abuse of the fabric deliver above . Always consult with a medical professional person before changing your diet or using plant - free-base remedy or supplements for health and wellness .
About
Heather Buckner
