Common Name: Catmint

General Information

Nepeta cataria is a herbaceous perennial plant with a rhizomatous rootstock; it produces a cluster of erect, branched stems, growing around 35 - 110cm tall, occasionally reaching 200cm[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, the cultivar 'Citriodora' has lemon-scented leaves[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Europe - Spain, Portugal, France, Baltic States and Finland, east to West Siberia, through W. & C. Asia to China, Korea, Japan

Habitat

Roadsides and near streams[]. Hedgerows, borders of fields, dry banks and waste ground, especially on calcareous and gravelly soils[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are hardy to about -25°c[].
Easily grown in a light sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in heavier soils if the drainage is very good.
Catmint contains a substance called nepetalactone[]. This emits a scent that is irresistible to many cats, who will then avidly attack the plant[, , , , ]. The smell is said to be similar to certain cat hormones and is more effective with male cats. Quite often a cat will completely destroy even a fairly large plant, small plants especially might need protection until well established[].
Sometimes grown in the herb garden, there are some named varieties[]. 'Citriodora' has lemon-scented leaves that are more attractive to people and less attractive to cats[, ].
If the plants are cut back hard when they are flowering a second crop of leaves will be produced[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - raw[, ]. A mint-like flavour, they make an aromatic flavouring in salads[, ]. Older leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods[, , ].
The leaves can be used fresh or dried to make an aromatic herb tea[, , ]. The tea should be infused in a closed container in order to preserve the essential oils, boiling is said to spoil it[].

Medicinal

Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers[]. The herbs pleasant taste and gentle action makes it suitable for treating colds, flu and fevers in children. It is more effective when used in conjunction with elder flower (Sambucus nigra)[].

The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic[, , , , , , , ]. An infusion produces free perspiration, it is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and colds[]. It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very useful as a mild nervine for children[]. A tea made from the leaves can also be used[].
The infusion is also applied externally to bruises, especially black eyes[].
The flowering stems are harvested in August when the plant is in full flower, they are dried and stored for use as required[].

The plant is used in homoeopathy as a children's remedy for colic, and also for treating conditions such as nervous headache and hysteria, abdominal complaints, pain, flexing of thighs, twisting of body, crying[].


La infusión de esta especie se usa como remedio medicinal popular. La infusión concentrada de las hojas, por su contenido en nepetolactona, se utiliza contra las pulgas, Es el mismo compuesto que, al parecer, atrae a los gatos y a otros félidos.

Agroforestry Uses:

Catmint is a good companion plant to grow in the garden[]. It is said to repel various cabbage pests, aphis (including peach aphis), flea beetles, cucumber beetles, squash bugs and ants from plants they grow near to[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[].

Other Uses

The plant is said to deter insects such as ants and flea beetles[, , ] as well as rats and mice[, , ]. (The idea behind it being a rat repellent is probably based on the plants attraction to cats, see notes above.) A strong infusion of the leaves, which has a high content of the compound nepetolactone content, is an effective treatment to repel fleas from carpets or the fur of animals[, ].
An extract from the leaves (called nepetalactone) has herbicidal and insect repellent properties[].

The freshly harvested flowering tops contain 0.3 - 1% essential oil by distillation[]. It is mainly used for medicinal purposes[].
An extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a perfume[].

The dried leaves retain their fragrance and can be used in pot-pourri[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in the autumn[]. The germination of spring sown seed can be erratic[], it is best sown in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. The seed remains viable for about 5 years[]. A fast-growing plant, the seedlings can reach flowering size in their first year[].
If you have sufficient freshly ripe seed then it is well worth trying a sowing outdoors in situ in the autumn.
Division in spring or autumn[]. Very easy, large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Basal cuttings in late spring or early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.