Nepeta: Uses (Ethnobotany)
As a garden plant, catnip acts as a repellant for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs.
Plant Profile: Nepeta
Taxonomy: NepetaNames
Catmint, Catnip
Phonetic Spelling:NEP-eh-tuh
Genus:Nepeta
Species:
Family:Lamiaceae
Catnip encompasses various species and hybrids, with the most recognized being N. cataria, commonly referred to as "true catnip." Among the top garden varieties are 'Six Hills Giant,' popular in England, along with 'Blue Wonder' and 'Blue Dwarf,' all of which showcase abundant blue flowers on tall spikes. Additionally, this plant is known for its resilience against deer damage.
Tags
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#edible plant
#perennial
#fragrant leaves
#medicinal
#seeds
#herb garden
#deer resistant
#borders
#container plants
Similar Plants
Nepeta Feature Summary
Attributes
As a garden plant, catnip acts as a repellant for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs.
Temp. Eurasia, Macaronesia to Eastern Tropical Africa
Much of Canada and US
Resistant to deer
Herbal teas from leaves. Fresh leaves (minty flavor) may be chopped and added to soups, stews, sauces, vegetables, or pasta
Perennial
Seed
Division
Flowers
Small, two-lipped, white (with pale purple spotting) flowers (1/4" long) bloom in spike-like terminal clusters at the stem ends from late spring well into summer.
Purple/Lavender
White
Blue
Spring
Summer
2-3 rays/petals
Lipped
< 1 inch
Leaves
3-inch aromatic grey-green leaves have downy stems and leaves which help give the plant its grey-green appearance.
Deciduous
Green
Gray/Silver
Simple
Opposite
Ovate
Rhomboidal
Serrate
1-3 inches
Soft
Edible
Fragrant
Stem
Downy stems
Green
Gray/Silver
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Deciduous
Spreading
Clumping
Medium
High
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Small groups
Drought
Deer
Pollution
Dry Soil
Container
Walkways
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Weedy
Nepeta Image Gallery
Nepeta Attributes
Nepeta: Country Or Region Of Origin
Temp. Eurasia, Macaronesia to Eastern Tropical Africa
Nepeta: Distribution
Much of Canada and US
Nepeta: Wildlife Value
Resistant to deer
Nepeta: Edibility
Herbal teas from leaves. Fresh leaves (minty flavor) may be chopped and added to soups, stews, sauces, vegetables, or pasta
Nepeta: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Nepeta: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Nepeta Flowers
Nepeta: Flower Description
Small, two-lipped, white (with pale purple spotting) flowers (1/4" long) bloom in spike-like terminal clusters at the stem ends from late spring well into summer.
Nepeta: Flower Color
Blue
Purple/Lavender
White
Nepeta: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Nepeta: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Nepeta: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Nepeta: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Nepeta: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Nepeta Leaves
Nepeta: Leaf Description
3-inch aromatic grey-green leaves have downy stems and leaves which help give the plant its grey-green appearance.
Nepeta: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Nepeta: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Nepeta: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Nepeta: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Nepeta: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Nepeta: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Nepeta: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Nepeta: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Nepeta: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Nepeta: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Nepeta Stem
Nepeta: Stem Description
Downy stems
Nepeta: Stem Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Nepeta: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Nepeta: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Nepeta Whole Plant Traits
Nepeta: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Nepeta: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Nepeta: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Nepeta: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Nepeta: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Nepeta Cultural Conditions
Nepeta: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Nepeta: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Nepeta: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Nepeta: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Nepeta: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Nepeta Landscape
Nepeta: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Nepeta: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Nepeta: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Nepeta: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Nepeta: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Nepeta: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
