Catmint is a variety of species and hybrids of the herbaceous perennial Lamiaceae (mint) family. Eastern Tropical Africa and Macaronesia are where catmint first appeared. Due to its potent aroma, which cats find alluring, catmint is known as such.
It needs full sun and good drainage for catmint. Once established, it is tolerant of drought. It tolerates a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, sand, and shallow rocky soil, and will flourish there. Shear off fading blooms to promote fresh growth and a subsequent blooming wave. Catmint tends to group together. It can be multiplied via division or seed.
Catmint is a plant that is commonly used in gardens to deter pests like aphids and squash bugs. The edible leaves have a minty flavor.
Catmint thrives in meadows, native regions, and cottage gardens thanks to its spreading shape. It thrives in pots, where it is positioned between rocks in a rock garden, or where it is planted alongside sidewalks.
There are no serious issues with insects, diseases, or other plant issues, though it can be a little weedy.
Catmint: is it an invasive species?
They believed it would entice cats to prey on rodents hiding about the farm or house. However, current research suggests that catmint may not just be discovered around the foundations of historic European homes and barns. According to a recent USDA study, termites are unlikely to dig tunnels through soil where catmint flourishes. Naturally, a moat made of this plant would prevent these pests from penetrating the wood of a hut or cottage.
Termites, mosquitoes, and cockroaches are all repelled by the same chemical that draws cats. Nepeta cataria, also referred to as common catnip, is a plant that contains it. Nepetalactone, a terpene found in these herbs, has been shown to be several times more effective at repelling insects than harmful DEET. To influence a cat, the plants release oils that must be breathed rather than consumed. This explains why cats are so prone to rolling around in catmint plants. More volatile oils are released from the leaves when it is bruised. Cats can detect airborne odors down to one part per billion.
Not all felines react the same way to these herbs. In fact, roughly 30% of household cats might not even respond to catmint. It’s a hereditary reaction that can vary in intensity from person to person and is inherited. Strangely, until they are at least 3 months old, extremely young kittens rarely react to nepetalactone.
There are a dizzying variety of plants in the genus Nepeta. The large invasive plant known as real catmint is described above. It grows to a height of three feet and bears few white blooms. It usually only appears in herb gardens and has very nothing to recommend it in terms of aesthetics. Due to its hardiness up to Zone 3, it is a fantastic choice for gardens in the north.
Through natural cross-pollination and human breeding, numerous species have been introduced into gardens over time and transformed into new varieties. The outcome is a wide variety of garden-worthy catmints that are much better prospects for your yard than the usual kind. Keep in mind that these immigrants won’t be as resistant to the cold as the species is. The majority, but not all, are sterile, preventing plants from spreading outward in the absence of viable seed. Simply deadhead the flowers after they are spent to stop seed formation in order to completely avoid self sowing.
The Six Hills Giant, which stands 3 feet tall, is the most impressive version. Late in the summer, foot-long spikes of dark violet blooms appear on lush, spherical plants. It is generally accessible and a superb option for novice growers.
Nepeta racemosa “Walker’s Low,” which has a shorter size, is an excellent edging plant. A gentle carpet of blue fills up the front of a border. It only grows to a height of 18 inches but produces dense clusters of vividly blue flower spikes. Walkers Low and Six Hills are resilient to Zone 5.
Catmints typically grow best in sandy, well-drained soils, although they will grow almost anywhere that isn’t moist. Late in the growing season, they can become rangy, and regular trimming is beneficial to prevent the taller forms from flopping in the rain.
Today, catmint merits another look as a natural pest deterrent for eco-friendly dwellings. wherever there is a chance of infestation, plant. Kittie won’t overdose, though, as cats all seem to have a sense of proportion.
Is catmint a natural plant?
Allow me to offer catmint (also known as Nepeta) to you if you’re seeking for a perennial that has long-lasting blooms, can withstand heat, is pest and disease resistant, and is simple to grow. I continue to include this top performer on my list of the best drought-tolerant and deer-resistant plants despite years of testing “plants are a must. It occupies a central place in my beautiful landscape and adds interest throughout the year. It has lovely gray-green foliage that appears in April in orderly, tidy heaps. The shrub practically erupts by May with a profusion of delicate lavender-blue blooms. The plant continues to display an abundance of color well into late summer or early fall after the initial flush of flowers. Even after the blossoms have faded, the floral show is enhanced by colorful calyces that match the blossoms’ color. If the leaves is left standing through the winter, it turns a pleasant soft silvery gray tint.
This herbaceous perennial belongs to the Lamiaceae family of plants, which also contains gigantic hyssop, bee balm, rosemary, and lavender. These plants have opposite leaves, two-lipped blooms, square stems, and aromatic foliage in addition to other characteristics in common. Many individuals mistake catmint for catnip (Nepeta cataria). Catnip and catmint are closely related, although catnip has a stronger scent and less decorative value than catmint.
Catmint like team games. Catmint is a fantastic alternative if you adore the traditional pairing of lavender and roses but find that lavender is too temperamental to grow in this location. Catmint can be used to coat the bare skin similarly to lavender “rose bushes’ branches. A lovely contrast to the vibrant tones of the roses is provided by the plant’s cool-toned foliage and blossoms.
Catmint complements the majority of other hues nicely, but it looks especially lovely when combined with hues from the red to blue color range. Irises look wonderful when they are grown in my own garden. It complements the medium lavender-blue iris “Crater Lake” and the blue-violet tones of the iris “Swingtown” in particular. The vertical outlines and deeper lavender hues of the Allium cultivars “Gladiator,” “Giganteum,” or “Purple Sensation” contrast pleasantly with the mounded shape. Catmint blends wonderfully with the purple foliage of Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ or the flowing burgundy foliage of Japanese Maple ‘Garnet’ as spring transitions into summer. Another excellent ally for catmint is ‘Purple Ruffles’ basil, which is also tasty! Catmint goes well with yellow-flowering plants like Hemerocallis “Happy Returns,” Achillea “Coronation Gold,” or Coreopsis “Early Sunrise.”
The hybrid Nepeta x faassenii produces the most well-liked catmint cultivars that are farmed for commercial purposes in this nation. The flowers have the name of Dutch nurseryman J. H. Faassen, whose nursery this hybrid initially emerged. N. x Faassenii flowers are sterile, thus deadheading is not necessary to stop them from self-seeding.
While the N. X faassenii family’s members are sterile, some closely related species, including the ones listed below, are fertile and may require deadheading to stop reseeding:
- Russian cat mint (N. sibirica) Plant that is erect and tall (two to three feet), with broad green leaves and deep blue blooms.
- Asian catmint (N. subsessilis)
- This catmint kind loves damp soil over the other species. Although it can tolerate direct sunlight, it prefers some shade.
- Orange catmint (N. govaniana)
- This rare species, which is indigenous to the Himalayas, has yellow blooms that emerge later in the summer.
- Nepeta with veins (N. nervosa)
- This plant is indigenous to India, grows one to two feet tall, and has leaves that are three to four inches long with strong veins.
- Turkish catmint (N. parnassica)
- This catmint, which grows to an astounding four to six feet tall and wide, is more frequently found in European gardens than in those in this country.
The Chicago Botanic Garden compared 36 catmints between 1999 and 2006 with the aim of identifying exceptional individuals in terms of their attractive features, disease and pest resistance, cultural adaptation, and winter hardiness (the botanical garden is located in zone 5b). Based on their heavy flower output over a lengthy bloom period, the following four best performers of the 22 highly rated catmints obtained five-star exceptional ratings:
- ‘Joanna Reed’ plants are 24 inches tall and 48 inches broad, with lavender-blue flowers. It bears the name of the deceased Pennsylvania gardener who found it.
Is catmint a North American native?
Nepeta cataria is a perennial plant with whitish flowers that grows to a height of two to three feet. Catnip prefers a well-drained soil with some moisture and access to sunlight. It is hardy to at least Zone 4. The plant is resistant to deer, has few insect pests, and is seen as a desirable plant by some pollinators, including honeybees and bumblebees.
This plant’s native regions are Europe and Asia, where people have long utilized it both as a culinary ingredient and as a natural remedy. These days, catnip is produced for its leaves and oils as well as for decorative purposes.
The plant was probably brought to North America by European immigrants, where it is today regarded as naturalized. Naturalized refers to the non-native catnip’s ability to spread and persist without human intervention. In Minnesota, catnip is not currently categorized as a state noxious weed or restricted plant. Catnip is still regarded as an invasive species in some states, including West Virginia.
In essence, the catnip I found was a weed, but not a very difficult one. In prior years, I noticed that when compared to other infamous weeds like lambsquarters, catnip was given a pass (Chenopodium album).
Catnip does, in fact, frequently face competition from other weeds when planted on farms. In a 2004 study from Iowa State University, plots of weedy catnip produced roughly half as much as those without weeds. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), another examined herb, produced the same amount of yield regardless of the presence or absence of weeds.
What distinguishes catnip and catmint from one another?
Nepeta cataria, a plant native to Europe and a close relative of the mints, produces catnip (spearmint, peppermint, pennyroyal, etc). The plant or dried herb attracts a lot of cats, and the smell might cause odd behavior patterns. Licking, chewing, head shaking, chin and cheek stroking, rolling, and salivation are a few of these actions. The herb only has an effect on roughly two-thirds of domestic cats. Other cat species, such as lions, leopards, and jaguars, are also impacted. A common folk treatment for fevers, colds, cramps, and headaches is catnip.
Catnip offers therapeutic benefits for both humans and cats, in addition to having insecticidal characteristics. Nepetalactone is the substance in catnip that is active (a component of essential oil extracted from catnip). Nepatalactone is an insect repellent that was developed by Iowa State University researchers in the early 2000s for use against cockroaches, mosquitoes, mites, ticks, spiders, termites, and other pests. Since then, it hasn’t been included in insect repellents that are sold commercially.
Additionally promising for crop protection is catnip oil. In a study, collard greens intercropped with catnip (placed in alternate rows) decreased the prevalence of flea beetles, an insect that is extremely harmful to collards. It has also been demonstrated that catnip extracts can repel harmful insects and the adult and larval stages of the Colorado potato beetle. Caterpillars, moths, and butterflies cannot be harmed by catnip extracts.
Catnip is comparatively simple to cultivate, accepts a wide range of soil types, and if not controlled, has the potential to spread beyond your garden. There are numerous seed firms that sell seed. Since the seed is so tiny, it can be directly sown on garden soil that has been thoroughly prepared and covered with 1/8″ of dirt. As an alternative, it can be planted in a flat after it has five sets of leaves. If you have cats, you might need to keep them away from it until it is established and mature. Once planted, each plant should endure for a number of years. Cutting the root mass in half and replanting allows you to divide established plants. Grow the plants where they have enough room because they can grow rather huge (3 feet tall).
Prior to blossoming, trim stems to gather catnip (early to mid summer). Leaves should be taken off of stems. In a well-ventilated place away from direct sunshine, spread the leaves out on a screen or tray. To provide aeration, turn the leaves once per day. It ought to be dry enough to crumble into flakes after two to three weeks. Put dried flakes in a container with a tight lid or a plastic bag that can be sealed. A few catnip plants will give you a year-round supply if you adore cats.
While similar to catnip in appearance, catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) does not energize cats. It is a mounded shrub with lovely gray-green foliage that grows slowly. Early summer and again throughout the monsoon season are when its abundant blue flowers bloom. Once planted, it is tolerant to both heat and drought. It can self-seed and grow (almost to the point of becoming weedy). These hardy perennials can withstand USDA zone 4 conditions and do well in mountain gardens. The majority of herbivores, including deer, are not drawn to catmint. The majority of gardeners think it makes a fine perennial border plant.
Bees and other beneficial insects are attracted to catnip and catmint. Catnip typically only blooms once per season, but when it does, bees and other nectar-feeding insects are drawn to it. I saw solitary bees feasting on nectar in the early summer, honeybees utilizing it in the middle to late summer, and bee flies and hawk moths using it in the late summer due to catmint’s prolonged bloom time. I cultivate both catmint and catnip. Cats use the catnip that has been gathered. All summer long, the catmint offers beneficial insects both beauty and sustenance. Photos and links to more information are provided below.
Does catmint appeal to hummingbirds?
Catmint grows easily, blooms for a long time, can withstand heat, and is pest- and deer-resistant. Shear off the spent blooms and approximately a third of the stem for a second round once the hummingbird flowers have faded. Why we adore it: Siberian catmint blossoms are particularly beloved by hummingbirds (Nepeta sibirica).