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Nepeta cataria

Cat Mint · Catnip · Catwort

Family LamiaceaeGenus Nepeta

A dense spike of small white flowers with pale purple spots, on a gray-green, downy stem
FlowerNicole MichelCC BY 4.0
A plate of a square-stemmed mint: heart-shaped toothed leaves in pairs up the stem below a spike of pale lilac flowers, with a flower, calyx and seeds drawn beside it.
IllustrationJohann Georg Sturm (Painter: Jacob Sturm)Public domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herb, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Altay, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry, Very DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • About two-thirds of cats are strongly drawn to it, because of the terpene nepetalactone, which also repels insects. Cataria means of cats. Wikipedia: Catnip
  • The name catnip is first recorded in 1775, in colonial Pennsylvania. Catmint is much older, used in about 1300 as kattesminte. Wikipedia: Catnip

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 8, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

40% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Nepeta p. 181Public domain
Show the original text
Nepeta (Lamiaceae). N. cataria required light for germination, and germination was low in all dark treatments including outdoor treatment. Germination was 70L(32-46% in 1-4 w), 40- 70L(40-65% in 1-4 w), and 40-70D(12%). for either fresh seed orseedDS 6 m at70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Nepeta p. 181. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

32% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Nepeta p. 181Public domain
Show the original text
Nepeta (Lamiaceae). N. cataria required light for germination, and germination was low in all dark treatments including outdoor treatment. Germination was 70L(32-46% in 1-4 w), 40- 70L(40-65% in 1-4 w), and 40-70D(12%). for either fresh seed orseedDS 6 m at70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Nepeta p. 181. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

12% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Nepeta p. 181Public domain
Show the original text
Nepeta (Lamiaceae). N. cataria required light for germination, and germination was low in all dark treatments including outdoor treatment. Germination was 70L(32-46% in 1-4 w), 40- 70L(40-65% in 1-4 w), and 40-70D(12%). for either fresh seed orseedDS 6 m at70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Nepeta p. 181. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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