Grow a treat for your feline friends, and your senses!
Catnip is more than just a kitty delight, it’s a fragrant, pollinator-friendly herb that brings charm to any garden. With soft, gray-green leaves and delicate lavender blooms, it’s perfect for teas, natural pest control, and of course, entertaining your cats.
Variety:Â Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Growth Habit:Â Perennial herb
Height: 24–36 inches
Flavor Profile:Â Minty with a hint of lemon
Color:Â Gray-green foliage with pale purple flowers
Planting Conditions:Â Full sun; well-drained soil
Harvest Timeline: Leaves in 60–75 days; flowers mid to late summer
Uses:Â Herbal teas, cat toys, pollinator gardens, pest repellent
Fun Fact:Â Catnip contains nepetalactone, a compound that sends many cats into a playful frenzy, and repels mosquitoes and aphids!
Catnip is a win-win for gardeners and their furry companions. Its aromatic leaves are irresistible to cats, perfect for stuffing into toys or sprinkling on scratchers. But it’s also a magnet for bees and butterflies, making it a lovely addition to pollinator gardens. Brew the leaves into a calming tea or plant it near veggies to help deter pests naturally. It’s a multitasking herb with rustic charm.
To Full Size
🌞 Choose a Sunny Spot: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade.
🌱 Sow the Seeds: ¼ inch deep, spaced 12–18 inches apart.
💧 Water Moderately: Water when soil feels dry to the touch.
🌾 Thin and Maintain: Prune regularly to encourage bushy growth and prevent flowering if growing for leaves.
✂️ Harvest: Pick leaves before flowering for best flavor. Dry for storage or use fresh.
