Catnip a true mint?

Lillyz 5/14/2013, 9:14 pm

I was thinking of starting some catnip for my cat. On the package it says its a perennial. I was wondering if its a true mint that spreads everywhere? Searched the site.

**camprn** 5/14/2013, 9:38 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepeta_cataria

http://www.ourherbgarden.com/catnip.html

It can be invasive and some work to keep ahead of the growth, but it seems worth it for all it's benefits.

Nonna.PapaVino 5/14/2013, 9:48 pm

Some years ago, I did a lot of flying as part of my job. My stomach didn't love flying. But I found that catnip tea (with some peppermint for flavor) was just the ticket to settle my indigestion. Great way to use up extra catnip. My mom's experience with growing catnip for her cat was that the neighbors' cats soon discovered the clump and wallowed it close to death. Solution: she upended a decorative wire basket over the clump and let it grow through the mesh. Cats could all eat some of the 'nip, but couldn't destroy it. At one time I even used a cheap mesh dish drainer to protect a clump. Not beautiful, but...it worked! Nonna

Nonna.PapaVino 5/14/2013, 9:49 pm

Check the stem on your catnip and compare it to the stem of, say, peppermint. Both stems are square, a drop-dead giveaway of the mint family. Nonna

**donnainzone5** 5/14/2013, 9:52 pm

When I lived in Southern California, the catnip survived from year to year. I think it could be quite invasive, so I grew it in pots.

I trained my cats to eat it by crushing the leaves and offering it to them by hand. After a while, the felines began chomping on the leaves without prompting.

landarch 5/15/2013, 12:45 am

You may want to look into Walkers Low Catmint...I spec it on many projects and I purcahsed eight plants just a few days ago. It is a variety that is not invasive, highly ornamental, and great for pollinators. One description I've read says "while not quite as enticing, is also attractive to cats". It is low mounding and has about a 3' spread.
Catnip a true mint? Walker10

Lillyz 5/15/2013, 3:29 pm

landarch wrote:You may want to look into Walkers Low Catmint...I spec it on many projects and I purcahsed eight plants just a few days ago. It is a variety that is not invasive, highly ornamental, and great for pollinators. One description I've read says "while not quite as enticing, is also attractive to cats". It is low mounding and has about a 3' spread.

I like! Will check the nurseries around here

Windmere 5/15/2013, 3:38 pm

landarch wrote:You may want to look into Walkers Low Catmint...I spec it on many projects and I purcahsed eight plants just a few days ago. It is a variety that is not invasive, highly ornamental, and great for pollinators. One description I've read says "while not quite as enticing, is also attractive to cats". It is low mounding and has about a 3' spread.

I love the way the Walkers Low Catmint looks. I have already planted in seed starters some organic catnip (from Botanical Interests). I just planted them a few days ago, and they are already beginning to peep up.

CapeCoddess 5/15/2013, 3:40 pm

My cat loves her catmint plant, and can't kill it like they can catnip. She even ran to it, pulled down a branch and held it on her paw after stepping on a bee once.
Catnip a true mint? Photo12

It must be a bit medicinal I'm thinking.

CC

Windmere 5/15/2013, 3:49 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:My cat loves her catmint plant, and can't kill it like they can catnip. She even ran to it, pulled down a branch and held it on her paw after stepping on a bee once.

It must be a bit medicinal I'm thinking.

CC

CapeCoddess, that is a really cute picture. Is your cat a flame point siamese? We have a blue eyed beauty with similar markings. She is a flame point siamese (or so said the rescue shelter we got her from). She is rather chunky... we have since learned that flame points tend to get a bit heavy.

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