Catnip

Grow lush, fragrant mounds of aromatic Catnip right in your home garden. A beloved perennial member of the mint family, this hardy heirloom herb features soft, gray-green, heart-shaped scalloped leaves and delicate spikes of pale lavender-white summer blooms that delight both feline companions and backyard pollinators alike.

Beyond driving cats wild with joy, Catnip is a soothing, lemony-mint culinary and herbal tea favorite for gardeners, offering a gentle, calming infusion when steeped fresh or dried. Remarkably hardy, drought-tolerant, and effortless to grow, these vigorous 24- to 36-inch plants thrive in herb borders, sunny garden beds, and patio containers across Canada—returning reliably year after year.

Why Grow Catnip?

• Hardy perennial heirloom herb producing soft, aromatic gray-green foliage and dainty lavender-white flowers
• Naturally rich in nepetalactone—the irresistible compound loved by cats for fresh treats and homemade toys
• Delivers a mild, soothing lemon-mint flavor ideal for calming herbal teas and infusions
• Abundant summer blooms attract honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, and beneficial garden pollinators
• Exceptionally hardy, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance across Canadian growing zones
• Approximately 75–85 days to maturity from seed
• Grows best in full sun to partial shade
• Open-pollinated heirloom perennial variety
• Approximately 300-400 seeds per packet

How to Grow Catnip from Seed

Start catnip seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date, or direct sow outdoors in spring after all danger of hard frost has passed. For best germination, cold-stratify seeds in the refrigerator for 1–2 weeks prior to planting, or lightly scarify the seed coat.

Sow seeds approximately 3 mm (1/8 inch) deep in moist seed-starting mix or fine garden soil, maintaining warm temperatures of 18–21°C (65–70°F) until seedlings emerge in 7–14 days.

Transplant or thin seedlings outdoors to a final spacing of 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) apart in a location receiving full sun to partial shade with light, well-draining soil. Water regularly during initial establishment; once mature, catnip thrives with minimal watering and little to no fertilizer.

Snip stems and leaves anytime once plants reach 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) tall, harvesting just before flowers fully open for peak essential oil concentration. Hang bundles upside down in a warm, dry, airy spot to dry for year-round feline treats or herbal tea.

Growing Catnip in Canada

Catnip is exceptionally well-suited to Canadian growing conditions, surviving harsh winters reliably down to Canadian Hardiness Zone 3. Once established in spring, plants quickly form lush clumps that bounce back vigorously every spring after snowmelt.

If outdoor neighborhood cats visit your garden, consider protecting young seedlings with wire cloches or growing catnip in elevated patio pots until plants are large and sturdy enough to handle enthusiastic feline attention.

For detailed instructions covering seed starting, spacing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and pest management, read our How to Grow Catnip in Canada | Complete Guide.

Catnip Growing Information

Feature	Detail
Botanical Name	Nepeta cataria
Common Name	Catnip / Catmint / Catswort
Plant Type	Hardy perennial culinary & medicinal herb (Zone 3–9)
Sun Requirements	Full sun to partial shade
Days to Maturity	Approximately 75–85 days
Seed Count	Approximately 300-400 seeds
Pollination Type	Open-pollinated heirloom perennial variety
Best Uses	Fresh & dried cat treats, homemade cat toys, soothing herbal tea, and pollinator gardens

Grow Your Own Catnip

There is nothing quite like harvesting fresh, fragrant sprigs of homegrown catnip to spoil your furry friends or brew a relaxing cup of evening herbal tea. With its rugged Zone 3 winter hardiness, pollinator-attracting blooms, and carefree growth, Catnip is a rewarding perennial favorite for every Canadian herb garden.

Sow your seeds this season and enjoy years of fresh, homegrown herbal harvests!