Catnip Plant Facts
- Catnip plants typically grow between 1 to 4 feet tall. They have slightly hairy, square stems and gray-green, heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins and hairy lower surfaces. The plants produce racemes, or elongated clusters, of tubular-shaped white or pale purple flowers between July and September. They bloom in 1 to 2 months before going to seed. The flowers have little fragrance, but the leaves have a strong, pungent aroma similar to oregano or thyme.
- Catnip leaves produce a natural oil that has a slightly intoxicating effect on cats. The Washington State University Extension recommends protecting catnip plants with wire screening to prevent them from being trampled or devoured by outdoor felines. Long-tongued bees such as miner and honeybees feed on the nectar, while moth caterpillars feed on the foliage. Native Americans treated colic, colds and coughs with catnip, while European settlers prescribed the herb for convulsions, coughs and nervousness.
- Catnip plants grow in disturbed sites such as old farmsteads, in pastures and along railroads. They also live in natural areas such as open woodlands and limestone bluffs. Growers occasionally cultivate catnip plants in herb gardens or in greenhouses. Cal Lemke from the University of Oklahoma Department of Botany and Microbiology reports that they have showy blossoms and grow well as ornamental container plants if they are cut back to diminish their size and encourage flowering.
- Catnip plants propagate easily from seed, plant division and cuttings, and can be weedy in some areas on the East Coast. They can grow in a variety of well-drained soil types ranging from gravel to loam, and thrive in lime soils with high pH levels. They tolerate either full sunlight or partial shade. These drought-tolerant plants grow best if the soil is allowed to become somewhat dry before adding more water. Their adult size varies depending on the soil fertility and moisture level.
