Catnip

Your cat may go crazy for catnip, or it may not.

Too much catnip can be a problem ("T"eresa) CC BY 2.0

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial herb from the mint family.
 
Native to eastern and southern Europe, Central Asia, and northern regions of the Middle East, catnip is now found throughout Europe, New Zealand, and North America.
 
Catnip plant description
 
Also known as catmint, this bushy plant grows 12-39 inches (30-100 cm) tall, depending on the cultivar.

Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' produces purple flowers on large shrubs (Leonora (Ellie) Enking) CC BY-SA 2.0

The serrated leaves are pale green to gray due to many fine hairs, especially on the underside. Like other members of the mint family, catnip stems are square. Tiny fragrant flowers bloom on inflorescences that form spikes. There is also a lemon-scented cultivar [Nepeta cataria ‘Citriodora’].

Catnip leaves (Forest & Kim Starr) CC BY 3.0

Catnip flowers (D. Gordon E. Robertson) CC BY-SA 3.0

How to grow catnip
 
These plants can be grown from cuttings, division, or seeds, and they regrow aggressively from shallow taproots. Like other mints, catnip can overtake an area. You may want to grow your catnip in containers.
 
Like many other herbs, catnip prefers rough conditions. It can be grown in sand, clay, or rocky soil. Catnip thrives in full sun.
 
Catnip plants are drought-tolerant and can handle being nibbled by deer.
 
But wet soil can lead to problems.
 
Catnip pests and diseases
 
Besides your local feline’s desire to roll around in your catnip, aphids and wet soil will be the biggest threats to your catnip’s health.
 
Overwatering can easily lead to bacterial leaf spot, blight, root rots, and Septoria leaf spot. Powdery mildew and rust may also occur. These herbs do not like to be babied. Let the soil dry out. If you forget to feed them once in a while, they’ll be fine.
 
Why grow catnip?
 
Catnip tea has long been used for its relaxing, sedative properties, but the research on its effectiveness and safety is mixed. [You can read more here and here, if you like those kinds of details.] Instead, I will enjoy it for its effects on the insects in my yard.
 
It ends up that catnip attracts butterflies and lacewings, as well as cats. It also acts as an insect repellent.
 
Aphids, flies, and squash bugs don’t like it. [I know I said catnip repels aphids earlier, but it ends up that some aphids like it and some don’t.] 

And catnip oil can be used to deter cockroaches, mosquitos, and termites. Recent research reported in Good News Network tells us that a lotion made from catnip oil is just as effective at repelling mosquitos as DEET, at a fraction of the cost.
 
Cats and catnip
 
I was surprised to learn that some cats are immune to the effects of catnip, and kittens often do not respond to this intoxicating herb until they are grown. But a full 2/3 of all domestic cats become very silly when exposed to catnip. Larger cats, such as cougars, leopards, and lynxes, are also affected.

Just imagine a leopard racing around the jungle with a case of the zoomies -  wouldn’t that be a sight!