Catnip causes a mighty strange reaction in cats. Different cats have different experiences, but they generally roll around in the plant, rubbing it all over their bodies (a very dog-like response!). This lasts a few minutes, after which the cats walk off with their tails in the air, as if to say, “We still have our dignity!” But they always come back for more. (We actually had a cat that was not excited by my patch of catnip; it turns out that some cats, and especially kittens and older cats, are not affected by the plant.)
Small lavender flowers cover catnip plants in midsummer.
Photo Credit: Joe Seals
Humans find that catnip foliage has a pleasant scent – cats find it irresistible.
Photo Credit: Joe Seals
So why grow your own? Most of the catnip plants that can be purchased at the nursery or garden center are different species or hybrids and don’t initiate the same reaction in your cat. True catnip is known as Nepeta cataria; the rest are Nepeta “something-else.” Another reason to grow your own is freshness; catnip in store-bought cat toys may have been around for a long time, losing its potency with each passing day.
Catnip plants are also pretty – they have pale lavender flowers for six weeks or more during the summer. The leaves are gray-green and have a pleasant scent. And bonus: The plants are very easy to grow, are drought-tolerant and mix well with other perennials.
The seed is relatively easy to find – look for it in the herbs section. Plant it indoors about two months before your frost-free date, or plant seed directly outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. It’ll sprout in two or three weeks and grow quickly.
Known as a perennial in the mint family, catnip is hardy in zones 3 to 9. In his book, Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on Their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes, Dr. Allan Armitage recommends growing the plant in full sun if you live north of Zone 5 and in afternoon or part shade if you live south of Zone 5. I grew the plant in full sun in Zone 6 and had no trouble, so experiment to find the optimum sun/shade ration in your garden. Plants grow about 2 feet tall and have a tendency to flop, making them a good edge-of-the-border plant. Like many of its cousins, catnip grows like a weed, so be prepared to keep it in line. (Even the Nepeta something-else selections spread easily!) It sends up new shoots from the roots, and it also produces numerous seeds.
Harvest can begin as soon as your plants are 8-12 inches tall. Cut the entire stem or just the tops. You can also cut the entire plant almost to the ground, and it’ll recover and yield another harvest later on. (Just keep in mind that constant cutting will keep it from sowing seed.) To dry, either hang your cut stems in a dry place or place the stems on wire mesh out of direct sunlight. After stems are dry, remove the leaves and store them in plastic bags or glass jars.
Try growing your own catnip – then get your camcorder ready to document your cat’s encounter with this intoxicating plant!
