Minnesota Wildflowers


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Nepeta cataria (Catnip)

Plant Info
Also known as: Cat mint
Genus:Nepeta
Family:Lamiaceae (Mint)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:Europe
Status:
  • Invasive - ERADICATE!
Habitat:shade, sun; fields, deciduous woods, along roads
Bloom season:July - October
Plant height:1 to 4 feet
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: irregular tubular spike

[photo of flowers] Thick spike-like clusters 2 to 4 inches long of ½-inch tubular flowers. The upper lip of individual flowers has 2 tiny lobes. The lower lip fans out with a wide middle lobe with several notches and 2 small side lobes. The color is usually white, sometimes pale pink or lavender, with purple dots on the inside the lower lip. One plant usually has several spikes.

Leaves and stem: opposite simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are generally heart-shaped or oval with a pointed or rounded tip, 1 to 4 inches long and up to 2 inches wide on short stems. The edges have rounded teeth. The leaves are hairy, as is the main stem. Like all members of the Mint family, attachment is opposite and the main stem is square.

Notes:

Catnip can be quite aggressive. Many years ago before I knew better, I planted some at home in a flower box as a treat for my cats. It spread to all parts of my yard within a few years. I may never be rid of it. It doesn't seem particular about where it grows. I've seen it growing in full sun to mostly shade, dry or moist conditions.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, June 2006 and June 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Linda in Dakota County
on: 2011-07-15 10:31:17

A couple of decades ago, I put in one plant as a treat for my cat... and forgot to deadhead it. I am STILL pulling it out of my gardens every time I turn around, trying to get it as small seedlings whenever I can, and I go on a search-and-destroy mission at least a couple times each summer. Sadly, many nursery growers are still promoting it. I got a small shipment of it from a supplier to the nursery I work for, and while I couldn't refuse the shipment, I did request that they send no more. I recently saw a landscape plan done by Gerten's for a client, and it was chock-full of nepeta. I recommended to the customer (who stated that she was not enthused about maintenance like deadheading) that she consider just about anything BUT nepeta, as it was a choice she, and her entire neighborhood, would live to regret.

Posted by: grik in St. Paul
on: 2011-08-03 19:40:20

This plant is not a total bad guy. Hummingbirds make good use of it.

Posted by: Laurie in Pine City
on: 2011-10-11 22:18:21

Actually, I like to make tea with the leaves.

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