Description
Catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a fragrant, easy-to-grow perennial herb best known for delighting cats with its naturally occurring essential oils while also offering many benefits in the garden. Featuring soft grey-green leaves and delicate white flowers with purple speckles, Catnip is an attractive addition to herb gardens, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, and containers.
Loved by many cats for its playful, stimulating effect, Catnip can be enjoyed fresh or dried as a natural treat or toy filler. For gardeners, it is an aromatic herb that attracts bees and other beneficial pollinators while helping to create a thriving, wildlife-friendly garden. The leaves can also be used to make a calming herbal tea for people (always consult a healthcare professional before consuming herbs).
Catnip thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Once established, it is drought tolerant, low maintenance, and can be harvested regularly to encourage fresh, bushy growth.
At Zephyr Forest – Narangba Nursery, we grow healthy, high-quality herb seedlings suited to Queensland gardens. Whether you're growing herbs for your pets, your garden, or your kitchen, Catnip is a rewarding and versatile perennial herb that is easy to grow.
Plant Details
- Botanical Name: Nepeta cataria
- Common Name: Catnip
- Plant Type: Perennial herb
- Mature Height: 60–100 cm
- Mature Width: 45–60 cm
- Position: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
- Watering: Water regularly until established; drought tolerant once mature
- Harvest: Pick leaves and stems as required throughout the growing season
Why You'll Love It
- Favourite herb for many cats
- Fragrant foliage with attractive flowers
- Attracts bees and beneficial pollinators
- Easy to grow and low maintenance
- Suitable for herb gardens, cottage gardens and containers
- Harvest fresh or dry the leaves for later use
Available now from Zephyr Forest – Narangba Nursery. Shop online for premium herb seedlings, vegetable seedlings, fruit trees, native plants, indoor plants and rare collector plants, or visit our North Brisbane nursery for expert advice and quality plants.
