Nepeta cataria
Catnip
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Nepeta cataria (Catnip) is a non-native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by Old World genus occasionally naturalized - represents European mint lineage not native to North America.
Catnip is a naturalized perennial found in the California Floristic Province in moist, generally shaded areas at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces white flowers with purple-spotted lower lips in small clusters, typically 6 to 10 millimeters long. Growing with short-hairy to grayish stems up to 1.5 meters tall, it develops a robust and somewhat sprawling habit. Its leaves are wide-lanceolate to ovate, 1.5 to 7.5 centimeters long with lobed bases and crenate to serrate margins, appearing short-haired on the upper surface and densely covered with appressed hairs underneath. The plant's distinctively aromatic foliage and fuzzy texture make it a characteristic member of disturbed or semi-shaded habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Old World genus occasionally naturalized - represents European mint lineage not native to North America
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, generally shaded areas
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: Siskiyou, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Plumas, Calaveras, Alpine, Inyo, Shasta, Lassen, Lake, Humboldt, Sonoma, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Modoc, Del Norte, Yolo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Mariposa
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern United States, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Nepeta cataria blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Nepeta has four stamens; Salvia has only two stamens visible in the flower.; vs Marrubium: Nepeta grows in moist shade; Marrubium prefers dry sunny disturbed sites.; vs Melissa: Nepeta has 15-veined calyces; Melissa has 7-9mm calyces with fewer veins.; vs Agastache: Nepeta stamens are enclosed in flower tube; Agastache stamens stick out well beyond petals.; vs Urtica: Nepeta has showy tubular mint flowers; Urtica has tiny green clusters and stinging hairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nepeta cataria native to California?
No. Nepeta cataria is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Nepeta cataria bloom?
Nepeta cataria blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Nepeta cataria grow?
Nepeta cataria occurs in Siskiyou, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Los Angeles, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Plumas, Calaveras and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Nepeta cataria belong to?
Nepeta cataria is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Nepeta.
What habitat does Nepeta cataria grow in?
Nepeta cataria grows in Moist, generally shaded areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.