plant

Catnip

Nepeta cataria

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) — a plant, for Full sun, Low water. Companions: Tomato, Courgette marrow.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermoderate

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium
Nectarattracts pollinators
Pollenattracts pollinators

Companions

Through the year

Emergence

Emergence of new growth in spring after the last frost and when soil temperatures consistently reach 10°C.

Flowering

Flowering begins in early summer as days lengthen and temperatures are warm, continuing for several months.

Senescence

Foliage begins to die back with the first autumn frosts.

Dormancy

Enters dormancy after the first hard frosts of autumn, remaining dormant through winter.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalNo
Accumulatespotassium, calcium, magnesium
Soil textureloam, sandy_loam, clay_loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceMedium

Propagation

Methodsseed, cuttings, division
Difficulty1 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Self-seedingModerate
Divisionspring

Wildlife & pests

Attractsbees, butterflies, cats
Repelsaphids, squash bugs, flea beetles, ants, rodents