Plant Details

Nepeta cataria

Catmint, Catnip

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Common names

44 names · 26 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (25)
Dutch
  • Wild kattekruid
  • Wild kattenkruid[2]
French
  • Cataire
  • Chataire[2]
  • Népéta cataire[2]
Arabic
  • قطرم حقيقي[2]
  • نعناع الهر الحقيقي[2]
Catalan
  • Herba gatera[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • šanta kočičí[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik naistenõges[2]
Finnish
  • aitokissanminttu[2]
German
Hungarian
  • illatos macskamenta[2]
Italian
  • Erba gatta[2]
  • Gattaia comune[2]
  • Gattaria[2]
Japanese
  • イヌハッカ[2]
  • 犬薄荷[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji katžolė[2]
Norwegian
  • kattemynte[2]
Polish
  • Kocimiętka właściwa[2]
Portuguese
  • Erva-de-gato[2]
  • Erva-gateira[2]
  • Gatária[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Nêveda-de-gato[2]
Russian
  • Котовник кошачий[2]
Slovak
  • kocúrnik obyčajný[2]
Spanish
  • Hierba del gato[2]
  • Menta de gato[2]
  • Menta gatuna[2]
Swedish
Thai
  • กัญชาแมว[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Котяча м'ята справжня[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Nepeta cataria L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Cat-mint (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159760; taxon 46XJB.
  • Catnip — VernacularName.tsv, line 159761; taxon 46XJB.
  • Echte Katzenminze (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159762; taxon 46XJB.
[2] Nepeta cataria — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Catnip — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Catmint — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Népéta cataire — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Hierba del gato — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Chataire — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • šanta kočičí — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Echte Katzenminze — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Katzenmelisse — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Katteurt — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Котовник кошачий — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Wild kattenkruid — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • kattemynte — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • aitokissanminttu — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Menta gatuna — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Paprastoji katžolė — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • 貓穗草 — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Menta de gato — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • イヌハッカ — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • harilik naistenõges — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • 假荆芥 — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Gattaia comune — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Erba gatta — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Gattaria — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • 猫薄荷 — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • kedi nanesi — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • nezleotu — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • kattmynta — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • kocúrnik obyčajný — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • กัญชาแมว — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Erva-de-gato — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Erva-gateira — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Gatária — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Nêveda-de-gato — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • 荆芥 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Kocimiętka właściwa — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • قطرم حقيقي — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • نعناع الهر الحقيقي — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • illatos macskamenta — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Котяча м'ята справжня — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • 犬薄荷 — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.
  • Herba gatera — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 48622; Nepeta cataria.

General information

Scientific name: Nepeta cataria
Accepted name (Kew): Nepeta cataria L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Nepeta (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Catmint, Catnip
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 0.60 m
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Clumping, Erect, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Essential oil, Herbicide, Repellent, Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Young leaves can be eaten raw and have a fresh minty flavor, making them perfect for salads. Older leaves are often used as a seasoning in cooked dishes. Fresh or dried leaves can also be used to make an aromatic herbal tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/06
Harvest ends: 15/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1058618; name ID 134391; Nepeta L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1058761; name ID 134509; Nepeta cataria L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Nepeta cataria

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 751012, ID 46XJB: Nepeta cataria L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Nepeta cataria — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .