![]() Plants can reach 3 feet in height, sporting small purple flowers and downy greyish-green leaves. Not just for cats, Common Catnip also has beneficial properties for humans. These plants are well-adapted to dry conditions, and different types will bloom between late spring or autumn.Ĭommon Catnip is an easy to grow perennial herb whose strong aroma makes it the most attractive species of catmint for our feline friends. Catmint is a great companion plant because it repels some harmful garden insects and leaf-hungry deer. Of the 250 species found within the Nepeta genus, some plants are grown for their ornamental qualities or for their attractiveness to cats. Cover young plants with a wire cage until they are well established. Another trick is to add several short stakes between the stems to discourage cats from laying on and crushing the plant.As a member of the Lamiaceae family, catmint grows via underground runners or seeds that are produced from its small flowers which can be white, pink, blue, or purple and are attractive to butterflies. The young plants can be easily destroyed by the chewing and rolling of a vigorous feline. Newly-planted catnip and catmint might need extra protection from curious cats. Expect catnip and catmint to return year-after-year in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9. Cut rangy catnip stems back by half their length in midsummer to encourage a neater habit. Catnip and catmint don't require fertilizer, especially if you add compost to the soil before planting.Ĭut back catmint flowers after they fade to encourage another round of blossoms a few weeks later. After planting your catnip or catmint, keep plants watered especially during hot, dry weather. Or you can find both plants through online retailers, either as potted plants or seeds. Catnip is often in the herb section of a garden center. Catmint is usually stocked alongside popular perennial plants such as purple coneflower and yarrow. You can find catnip and catmint plants at local garden centers. Lower-growing varieties, such as 'Cat's Pajamas' shown above, work well as an edging plant along a walkway. Catmint, on the other hand, grows in a single clump as doesn't spread or reseed as easily. Plant it where you can keep it in bounds, or grow it in a container. Catnip will tolerate poor soil and will reseed and spread readily, becoming a nuisance in warmer climates. Catnip and catmint grow in average, well-drained soil. They will tolerate a few hours of shade but need about eight hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Catnip's weedy appearance doesn't work with all garden styles, so this plant is best kept in an out-of-the-way area if you'd still like to grow it for your cat.īrie Passano Where to Plant Catnip and Catmintīoth catnip and catnip grow well in full sun. Catmint's purple flowers and tidy shape make it a more showy garden plant. From a landscape standpoint, catmint is considered the more ornamental choice of the two plants. Catnip and catmint can appeal equally to some felines, while others seem to prefer catnip and will pass by catmint without a second glance. When it comes to attractiveness to cats, that can depend on the individual animal. Plus, these perennials produce pretty spikes of purple flowers for weeks at a time throughout the summer. There are a few different types of catmint, but in general these all have a more tidy-looking, compact, mounded appearance than catnip. Small spikes of white flowers appear here and there between spring and fall, but aren't very showy. It has a rangy, branching shape and forms 3-foot-tall drifts of gray-green foliage. catmint, these plants differ on a number of key features.Ĭatnip ( Nepeta cataria) is a vigorous perennial plant with a somewhat weedy appearance in the landscape. ![]() But if you're wondering if you should grow catnip vs. When touched, their aromatic leaves release a mint-like scent that some people find a little pungent and "skunky." Both plants are fast-growing and drought-tolerant. ![]() And they each produce spikes of tiny, two-lipped flowers that are a valuable food source for pollinators. They both have square stems that are typical features of mint plants. Catnip and catmint both belong to the genus Nepeta in the mint family.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |