Catnip Plants for Cats

Common Catnip

• Nepeta cataria L. is the scientific name for the most common catnip plant. This variety easily grows in dry, sandy soil conditions or soil that is well-drained in all 50 states and it thrives indoors and outdoors. In fact, Nepeta cataria L. is so hardy, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture gave it invasive weed status because of its tenacious growth in the Great Plains states, and the University of Wisconsin says if fares well in the woods. Nepeta cataria L. is commonly known as catmint, catwort and field balm, and boasts cream-colored flowers with light pink or purple spots. A healthy plant can grow anywhere from 18 to 40 inches.

Raceme Catnip

• Raceme catnip is a Persian catmint found in New York, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates it may be native in other states as well, though the department has no record of it. This catnip boasts lavender flowers that add color to any garden while providing useful catnip leaves for the family feline. Nepeta racemosa Lam. does not carry the invasive weed stigma its Nepeta cataria L. cousin does, but it grows well in the same dry, sandy soil conditions as Nepeta cataria L. Canada's National Research Council advises that both the Nepeta racemosa Lam. and Nepeta cataria L. need approximately five hours of sunshine a day. If you plant it outside, put it in a partially shady area. If you grow it inside, place in the sun for the allotted timeframe.

International Varieties

• Several other varieties of the catnip plant are native throughout Europe and Asia and have become naturalized in the United States and Canada. These varieties include Nepeta camphorata (camphor catnip), Nepeta parnassica (Greek catnip), Nepeta cataria citriodora (lemon catnip) and Nepeta mussinii (catmint catnip). Camphor catnip has a camphor scent. This variety blooms white, purple-dotted flowers and grows up to 18 inches tall. Greek catnip also grows 18 inches tall and produces pale pink and white flowers. Lemon catnip leaves smell like lemons, the flowers are white with purple spots and the plant grows 3 feet tall. Catmint catnip is the baby of the bunch, growing only 15 inches high. This catnip's leaves are sometimes gray and the flowers are purple.