Catnip (nepeta cataria)
$4.80/100 Seeds
Nepeta cataria (catnip) in Australia is a hardy, aromatic perennial herb, growing 60cm–1m tall with square stems, grey-green serrated leaves, and white-to-pale-blue flower spikes in spring/summer. Naturalized in NSW, Vic, Tas, and SA, it thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and is famously used to stimulate cats while acting as a natural insect repellent.
Key Details:
- Appearance: A sprawling, shrub-like plant with hairy, heart-shaped or triangular leaves that emit a mint-like aroma.
- Growth: Thrives in full sun or semi-shade, and is drought-tolerant once established.
- Flowers: Small, tubular flowers, often white with purple spots, bloom in warm months.
- Naturalization: Recorded as a naturalized weed in parts of NSW (Sydney district), VIC, TAS, and SA.
- Usage: Highly attractive to cats; also used in gardening for attracting beneficial insects.
- Cultivation and Use:
- Growing: Suitable for pots and, with regular pruning to prevent it from becoming too leggy, works well in gardens.
- Impact on Cats: Causes behaviors such as rolling, pawing, and eating, due to the compound nepetalactone, which is also a natural repellent for mosquitoes and cockroaches.
- Harvesting: Best harvested in the morning after dew has dried.
Thank you for choosing Tassie Seeds. You are supporting a small, Aussie family-owned business. We grow most of the seeds ourselves organically on our farm in Tasmania. We also buy a few specialty hybrids from wholesalers.
Please note: These seeds are from our wholesaler – not grown by us this year
May your flowers be many and the weather kind!
