Nepeta cataria

Catmint

Catnip

Catswort

Cat?s heal all

Cat?s-play

Cat grass

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves - raw^[1]^[2]. A mint-like flavour, they make an aromatic flavouring in salads[7, K]. Older leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods^[3]^[4]^[5]. They can be used fresh or dried to make an aromatic herb tea^[6]^[5]^[7]. The tea should be infused in a closed container in order to preserve the essential oils, boiling is said to spoil it^[8].

Unknown part

Condiment

Tea

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The plant is said to deter insects such as ants and flea beetles^[9]^[2]^[10] as well as rats and mice^[11]^[12]^[10]. (The idea behind it being a rat repellent is probably based on the plants attraction to cats, see notes above.) A strong infusion can be used to repel fleas from carpets or the fur of animals^[10]. An extract from the leaves (called nepetalactone) has herbicidal and insect repellent properties^[13].

The freshly harvested flowering tops contain 0.3 - 1% essential oil by distillation^[8]. It is mainly used for medicinal purposes^[8].

The dried leaves retain their fragrance and can be used in pot-pourri^[14].

Unknown part

Essential

Herbicide

Pot-pourri

Repellent

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers^[15]. The herbs pleasant taste and gentle action makes it suitable for treating colds, flu and fevers in children. It is more effective when used in conjunction with elder flower (Sambucus nigra)^[15]. The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic^[11]^[1]^[16]^[9]^[6]^[17]^[8]^[18]. The flowering stems are harvested in August when the plant is in full flower, they are dried and stored for use as required^[11]. An infusion produces free perspiration, it is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and colds^[11]. It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very useful as a mild nervine for children^[11]. A tea made from the leaves can also be used^[19]. The infusion is also applied externally to bruises, especially black eyes^[14].

Unknown part

Antispasmodic

Antitussive

Astringent

Carminative

Diaphoretic

Emmenagogue

Nervine

Refrigerant

Sedative

Stimulant

Stomachic

Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in the autumn^[12]. The germination of spring sown seed can be erratic^[12], it is best sown in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. The seed remains viable for about 5 years^[11]. A fast-growing plant, the seedlings can reach flowering size in their first year^[18].

If you have sufficient freshly ripe seed then it is well worth trying a sowing outdoors in situ in the autumn. Division in spring or autumn^[12]. Very easy, large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Basal cuttings in late spring or early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Nepeta cataria. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a light sandy soil in a sunny position^[12]. Succeeds in heavier soils if the drainage is very good.

Plants are hardy to about -25°c^[20]. Catmint emits a scent that is irresistible to many cats, who will then avidly attack the plant^[11]^[1]^[2]^[21]^[12]. The smell is said to be similar to certain cat hormones and is more effective with male cats. Quite often a cat will completely destroy even a fairly large plant, small plants especially might need protection until well established[K]. Sometimes grown in the herb garden, there are some named varieties^[7]. 'Citriodora' has lemon-scented leaves that are more attractive to people and less attractive to cats^[7]^[20]. If the plants are cut back hard when they are flowering a second crop of leaves will be produced^[18]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits^[22]. Catmint is a good companion plant to grow in the garden^[18]. It is said to repel various cabbage pests, aphis (including peach aphis), flea beetles, cucumber beetles, squash bugs and ants from plants they grow near to^[18].

The flowers are very attractive to bees^[23].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Nepeta cataria. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Nepeta cataria.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3^1.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 ()
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 ()
? ^3.0^3.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 ()
? ^4.0^4.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing ()
? ^6.0^6.1^6.2^6.3 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 ()
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 ()
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5^8.6 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ()
? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 ()
? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 ()
? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3^11.4^11.5^11.6^11.7^11.8 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 ()
? ^12.0^12.1^12.2^12.3^12.4^12.5^12.6^12.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ()
? ^13.0^13.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 ()
? ^14.0^14.1^14.2^14.3 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 ()
? ^15.0^15.1^15.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 ()
? ^16.0^16.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 ()
? ^17.0^17.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
? ^18.0^18.1^18.2^18.3^18.4^18.5 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 ()
? ^19.0^19.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 ()
? ^20.0^20.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 ()
? Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim ()
? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ()
? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. ()
? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press ()

"image:Nepeta cataria Sturm24.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-7-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3^1.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 ()

[PFAFimport-20-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 ()

[PFAFimport-2-3] ? ^3.0^3.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 ()

[PFAFimport-27-4] ? ^4.0^4.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()

[PFAFimport-105-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing ()

[PFAFimport-21-6] ? ^6.0^6.1^6.2^6.3 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 ()

[PFAFimport-183-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 ()

[PFAFimport-218-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5^8.6 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 ()

[PFAFimport-14-9] ? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 ()

[PFAFimport-201-10] ? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 ()

[PFAFimport-4-11] ? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3^11.4^11.5^11.6^11.7^11.8 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 ()

[PFAFimport-200-12] ? ^12.0^12.1^12.2^12.3^12.4^12.5^12.6^12.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ()

[PFAFimport-222-13] ? ^13.0^13.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 ()

[PFAFimport-245-14] ? ^14.0^14.1^14.2^14.3 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 ()

[PFAFimport-254-15] ? ^15.0^15.1^15.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 ()

[PFAFimport-9-16] ? ^16.0^16.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 ()

[PFAFimport-165-17] ? ^17.0^17.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()

[PFAFimport-238-18] ? ^18.0^18.1^18.2^18.3^18.4^18.5 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 ()

[PFAFimport-213-19] ? ^19.0^19.1 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 ()

[PFAFimport-187-20] ? ^20.0^20.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 ()

[PFAFimport-46-21] ? Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim ()

[PFAFimport-233-22] ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ()

[PFAFimport-108-23] ? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. ()

[PFAFimport-17-24] ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press ()

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Article is incomplete	False +
Article requires citations	False +
Article requires cleanup	False +
Belongs to family	Labiatae +
Belongs to genus	Nepeta +
Has binomial name	Nepeta Cataria +
Has common name	Catmint +, Catnip +, Catswort +, Cat’s heal all +, Cat’s-play + and Cat grass +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Unknown part + and Leaves +
Has edible use	Seasoning +, Unknown use + and Tea +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	3 +
Has image	Nepeta cataria Sturm24.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has material part	Unknown part +
Has material use	Essential +, Herbicide +, Pot-pourri + and Repellent +
Has mature height	1 +
Has mature width	0.6 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Antispasmodic +, Antitussive +, Astringent +, Carminative +, Diaphoretic +, Emmenagogue +, Nervine +, Refrigerant +, Sedative +, Stimulant +, Stomachic + and Tonic +
Has primary image	Nepeta cataria Sturm24.jpg +
Has search name	nepeta cataria +, catmint +, catnip +, catswort +, cat’s heal all +, cat’s-play + and cat grass +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil texture preference	Sandy + and Loamy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomic rank	Species +
Has taxonomy name	Nepeta cataria +
Has water requirements	low +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated	No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated	No +
PFAF material use notes migrated	No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated	No +
PFAF propagation notes migrated	No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated	Yes +
Tolerates air pollution	False +
Tolerates maritime exposure	False +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	False +
Tolerates wind	False +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.	Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria +, Nepeta cataria + and Nepeta cataria +

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Unknown part

Leaves

Material uses

Unknown part

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Forage

Shelter

Propagation

Cultivation

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

Polycultures & Guilds

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

Subspecies

Full Data

References

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