Growing Catnip

The vibrant green leaves of catnip are not only attractive to cats but are popular in tea as well.

In the Garden

Plant catnip in a place where your cats can rub and roll in it without hurting adjacent plants. Some cats like catnip so much that they lie on it, roll on it, and chew it to the point of destruction. If you find that to be the case, place some 1- to 2-foot-long bamboo sticks or thin dowels every 2 to 3 inches within the canopy of the plant to make it impossible for a cat to lie on top of the plant.

Catnip grows as a loosely branching, low perennial. In a flowerbed, you can plant catnip in front of purple coneflower, which blooms about the same time. The plant bears tiny, white blooms that are not very showy. You can also grow it in containers.

For indoor cats, grow several pots outside to rotate to the indoors. Plants need a lot of light, so you’ll need to move them back out every couple of weeks and bring in a new one.

Also consider planting catnip in the vegetable garden as a way to attract your cat, who can help keep down rodents in the garden.

• Soil, Planting, and Care
• Harvest and Storage
• Uses
• FAQs

Use smooth sticks or dowels placed 2 to 3 inches apart within the canopy of your catnip to keep your cats from flattening it.

Set out transplants in the spring after the last frost. Keep plants full by pinching the growing stems and flower buds when they appear. The small white flowers that appear in the summer will form seeds that sprout; the plant also spreads by underground runners.Some cats are very rough on plants. To keep plants from being loved to death, cover each with an arch of chicken wire. The stems can grow up through the holes, yet the plant’s base and roots are protected. Or, try interspersing with bamboo stakes to prevent cats from rolling on top of the plant.

Many cats can’t resist the fragrance and flavor of catnip. You can move a pot inside for an indoor cat, but be sure to bring it back outside so that the plant will get enough sunlight.

Harvest leaves by cutting the stems anytime during the growing season. The foliage keeps its scent best when air dried.

You can stuff sachets and cat pillows with dried leaves. Dried leaves are also popular for herbal tea.

Without a label, how do I know the difference between mint and other herbs?

You are very observant. A surprising number of herbs are members of the mint family, including mint, peppermint, spearmint, bee balm, catnip, lemon balm, and yerba buena, all of which have a certain resemblance, beginning with their square stems. However, there are differences in the foliage, fragrance, growth habit, hardiness, and, ultimately, the use. The best way to learn about growing and cooking with herbs is to have them in your garden. Just jump in and swim. Gardening with herbs is a delicious adventure.

I bought catnip for my cat, but she doesn’t seem to even notice it. What’s wrong?

Not all cats respond to catnip. The ones that do can kill a plant with their enthusiasm, and sometimes anything planted around it, too. If your cat enjoys catnip, plant several in different areas of the garden, using care to leave a margin around each one. However, if your cat doesn’t like it, you can enjoy its nice foliage and experiment with catnip in herbal teas.