How to Grow Catnip in the Garden and Indoors

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

My cat has a felt taco cat toy that was scented with catnip a few years ago and she still goes squirrelly whenver I pull it out to give to her. If you have a cat that responds favorably to catnip (apparently not all do), it’s worthwhile to learn how to grow catnip. This perennial herb is incredibly easy to grow from seed and from cuttings. It’s also drought tolerant and not too fussy when it comes to nutrients. Even if you don’t have a cat, catnip is an attractive plant that can be used for its foliage and flowers in cut flower arrangements.

Meet the catnip plant

A member of the mint family, catnip (Nepeta cataria) originally came from Asia and Europe but is now naturalized throughout North America. Catnip contains pinene, nepetalactone, and other chemical compounds which give it its signature minty-and-medicinal scent.

Not to be confused with its cousin, catmint, catnip has clusters of tiny, pink and white flowers. Catmint has purple or pink flowers and a more compact growth habit. Also, catnip leaves are larger and not as fuzzy as those of catmint.

How to grow catnip at home

While we may think of growing catnip to tempt our cats, the leaves are edible for humans and add flavor to salads. The chemicals in catnip—and, to a lesser degree, catmint—can stimulate cats’ brains, but for humans, it seems to be the opposite. Some people drink catnip tea before bed because of its calming effects.

the difference between catnip and catmint — Both catnip and catmint feature the square stems that are common to plants in the mint family, and they both have strongly scented foliage. However catnip has white flowers and catmint has purple or pink flowers.

Also, if you like gardening to attract butterflies and bugs, catnip’s a great choice. The plant’s tight flower clusters draw in beneficial insects, like lacewings and honey bees, bumble bees, and other pollinators.

The best conditions for growing catnip

Suited for USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 7 (-40°F to -30°F / -40°C to -34.4°C and 0°F to 10°F / -17.8°C to -12.2°C), catnip is very forgiving provided it has well-drained soil. Catnip plants prefer full sun. (If you live in an especially hot climate, plant yours in a spot that gets partial shade during the hottest part of the day.)

Growing catnip from seed vs from a starter plant

Tiny but tough, catnip seeds require cold stratification to germinate. Gardeners in climates that get hard winter freezes can prepare outdoor planting beds in the fall, direct sow seeds that haven’t already been cold stratified, and watch for catnip seedlings to sprout in the spring.

catnip seedlings at a nursery — Catnip can be started from seed or cuttings, but you can also keep an eye out for seedlings (usually in the herb section) in the spring.

For indoor seed-starting, you can cold stratify catnip seeds yourself. Simply mix them into a moistened, sterile growing medium, place in a zip-top freezer baggie, and refrigerate for several weeks before planting. (See “How to grow catnip indoors” for more details.)

Wondering how to grow catnip from a starter catnip plant? You can clone new plants from softwood cuttings or dig up established plants and divide them at the root level in early spring.

How to grow catnip indoors

Whether you want to start seeds indoors or grow catnip as a houseplant, your growing medium should provide good drainage. Similarly, any pots you use should have at least one drainage hole.

a packet of catnip seeds in a store — Catnip seeds need to go through the process of cold stratification in order to germinate.

For best results, plant cold-stratified seeds in a seed-starting tray placed atop a seedling heat mat. Periodically mist the growing medium with a spray bottle. Seedlings should sprout in about seven days.

How to grow catnip outdoors

Once the soil warms up in spring, you can sow cold-stratified catnip seeds directly into the garden bed or transplant seedlings 18 inches apart. Cats rarely detect direct-sown catnip; however, the act of moving and planting seedlings releases the plants’ scent which can attract area felines. As such, you may need to cage small transplants to protect them from catnip-loving cats until the plants mature.

Caring for catnip plants

Fertilizer: Like many herbs, catnip isn’t a heavy feeder. You can amend your soil with finished compost to give plants a boost.
Moisture: Periods of drought don’t affect established catnip plants too much. (It’s a good idea to allow the soil surface to dry out between watering, anyhow.) Keep an eye on younger plants that may require a little more water and avoid overwatering mature plants.
Maintenance: To encourage plants to bloom again and again, prune spent flower heads.

Harvesting catnip

Research has shown that catnip contains the highest concentration of volatile oils when the plant’s in its full flowering and seed-setting stages. Depending on how many plants you’ve grown and how much you want to save, you can harvest catnip by snipping individual leaves, cutting out the top third of a mature plant, or by pulling up entire plants.

catnip flowers — Apparently catnip is at its most potent when it’s flowering. You can harvest stems from the top third of a mature plant or by digging out an entire plant to dry.

Drying catnip

Hang whole plants or long stems them upside-down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated spot to dry them. (Place them inside a paper bag to keep them clean and dust-free during this process.) You can dry smaller amounts in a food dehydrator. Set it on low for just a few hours. Store your dried catnip in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Checking for pests

Because its chemical makeup repels these kinds of pests, aphids and spider mites rarely bother with catnip. That said, indoor plants occasionally may have whitefly infestations. Routinely inspect along stems and underneath leaves for potential outbreaks. To mitigate these, remove small numbers of insects by hand before they can multiply.