Catnip Seeds

Days to Maturity: 85 from direct sow

A member of the mint family, catnip is just as easy to grow but does not, thank goodness, spread quite as enthusiastically. This fragrant, beautiful perennial herb is a joy in any garden, bringing in "good bugs" and helping to keep the pests away.

As its name suggests, catnip is irresistible to cats, but bees and butterflies also love it, visiting frequently throughout the summer. It is a spreading, carefree joy in the bed or border, blooming all summer with fragrant flowers and foliage. We've known many gardeners who began growing catmint to please their cats and were so delighted with these plants that they ended up a permanent feature in the garden.

Both the soft lavender-blue flowers and the green foliage are aromatic on these 2-foot-high plants and can be used to make a soothing tea or potpourri. Harvest the leaves as needed or cut away the entire plant in midsummer, drying it upside down indoors in a warm, dry location.

Best in full sun, catnip grows readily in poor, dry, sandy, or hot soils where little else is successful. Sow the seeds about ¼-inch deep in the spring soil after all danger of frost. Pinch to make the plant bushier, and snip away flower buds if you want to prolong the harvest of flavorful leaves. Very easy to grow, and long-lived. Be careful about letting this plant go to seed; it will volunteer freely all over the garden. If you want to harvest the seeds, place a bag over the flowerheads as soon as they begin to fade, and collect the seeds that way. Plenty to share with gardening and cat-loving friends.