# Catnip (*Nepeta cataria*) Catnip is a fun plant that many cats love! It has soft, green leaves and can grow tall. When cats smell it, they often get very playful and happy. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Catmint ![Catnip](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Catnip_flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catnip_flowers.jpg) ## Appearance The Catnip has soft, fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves that are typically silvery-green. Its small, tubular flowers, ranging from white to pale lavender, grow in dense, spiky clusters. Distinctive square stems help it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Nepeta ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans used catnip leaves to make delicious sauces for their meals. - Catnip belongs to the mint family, which explains its strong smell! - Early settlers used dried catnip to stuff dolls, creating a calming scent! - Some big cats, like lions and tigers, also react to catnip! ## Special abilities - **Feline Frenzy Inducer:** Catnip has a special oil called nepetalactone that affects many cats, making them playful and energetic. - **Insect Repellent Shield:** Catnip produces a compound that naturally repels certain insects like aphids, protecting its leaves from being eaten. - **Scented Signal:** Catnip releases a strong minty scent from its leaves, which helps attract vital pollinators like bees. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen for its colony - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — efficiently collects pollen from the tiny flowers - **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — sips sweet nectar from the blossom spikes ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Catnip is safe for cats, but it's best to keep it away from pets that don't react to it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Catnip? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Catnip? 30-100 cm ### How wide does Catnip spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Catnip? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Catnip bloom? Summer-fall ### Is Catnip edible? Yes ### Is Catnip toxic? None ### What is Catnip's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park - [Virginville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virginville) — Pennsylvania, US · Neighborhood - [Greater Cleveland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greater-cleveland-aquarium-ohio) — Ohio, US · Aquarium - [Bertrand F. Harrison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bertrand-f-harrison-arboretum) — Utah, US · Botanical Garden - [Crystal Grottoes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-grottoes) — Maryland, US · Natural Landmark - [Greater Cleveland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greater-cleveland-aquarium) — Ohio, US · Zoo [View all places to see Catnip](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/catnip) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Catnip: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/catnip)