Intro/Brief Description
Catnip
Family: Lamiaceae
When you look outside and see those dreary cold days, doesn’t a hot cup of tea sound tantalizing? Ahhhh! A warmth you can feel all the way to your toes—a feeling that warms you from the inside out. And it’s even better when it is an herbal tea, with a little taste of honey thrown in.
A lot of us think of tea when we want to warm up, relax…maybe even de-stress a little, but not many think about having a cup of catnip tea.
Examples
Catnip is often call catmint, but they are actually different species of the same genus.
- Nepeta Cataria is from the Labiatae family, which also includes the mints.
- Nepeta grandiflora, Giant catmint, is a beautiful flowering plant.
- Nepeta siberica, Siberian Catmint has stems that have a wonderful cinnamon smell.
- Nepeta Cataria v. citrate, Lemon Catnip makes a luscious lemon flavored tea.
Special Features
Catnip originated in Eurasia and has been documented in use for at least 2,000 years. It was brought to America in the mid 1700s and took off almost immediately. Today we think of it as a cat’s play “toy” (and who doesn’t enjoy watching a cat enjoying it), but catnip’s history has been mainly as a medicinal plant.
Agnus castus, an herbal book written during the Middle Ages lists catnip as a tea for “evils that a man has about his throat.” It was often used for sore throats, fever and colds. Other ancient herbals talked about catnip’s ability to bring on sweating – something traditionally done to treat a fever.
After watching a cat’s intoxicated acts from catnip, it is hard to believe that catnip has long been used as a sleep aid. German researchers found that the chemicals naturally produced in catnip are similar to the sedatives found in Valerian.
Catnip tea has also been used for digestive problems. Some herbalists recommend a cup of tea after meals if you regularly have indigestion or heartburn. Candied catnip leaves were made by Euell Gibbons, an authority on wild edible plants, to serve after dinner as a minty treat that aided in digestion.
Hardiness
Catnip is hardy to Zones 3-4. It is a hardy perennial.
Growth Habit
Catnip has gray green leaves that have soft white “hairs” all over them.” The catnip plant will reach a height of between 1-3 feet.
This plant is very invasive, just like the other plants in the Labiatae family. If you do not want it to spread, keep the roots contained underground by planting it in a bottomed out milk jug or with dividers around it.
Bloom Time
Catnip will flower from mid summer through early fall. The Nebatas can have beautiful purple flowers or white ones. The aroma comes from the plant not the flowers, however, so we just enjoy them for their beauty.
Propagation
Propagation can be done by seed, however the seeds are very tiny. When we planted them, we actually just did a broadcast seeding in a tray and when the seedlings started to come up then transferred them into cells until ready to transplant outside.
Cuttings are possibly the best way to start the plants so that you are not dealing with thousands of seedlings. A 3-4” cutting can be put into a moist soil medium and will root in approximately a week.
Transplanting
Transplanting can be done when the seedlings are 2-3 inches tall and the danger of frost is past.
Again, a warning, this plant is very invasive so when you plant the seedlings put them somewhere where they can take over or contain them.
Soil and Sunlight
pH in the soil should be 6.6.
Catnip prefers full sun, but partial shade works for it as well.
Catnip can thrive just about anywhere and doesn’t require a special soil.
Care
Catnip is very easy to grow and you will reap great rewards from it. Prune often starting in late summer to keep the plant in check, especially if you only have a small area for it. If you are saving the leaves for tea, do not collect the tough stalks as these are not the best for any benefits you might get from the herb. Stems can be dried by hanging them upside down in a dark, preferably cool, room to save for the cold winter ahead.
Pests and Disease
Catnip is an extraordinary hardy plant that does not give in to pests. Catnip has actually been used as a pest repellant to deter mosquitoes, cockroaches and even termites.
References
Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Rodale Press, Copyright 1987
The New Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman, Copyright 2001; Rodale Books
The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines by Charles W. Fetrow and Juan r. Avila, Copyright 2000 by Springhouse Corporation