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About Carissa and Catmint


About Catmint and Carissa


What is

Life Span
Annual  
Perennial  

Type
Shrub  
Perennial  

Origin
Southern Africa  
Turkey, Iran, Western Asia  

Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas  
Apple Mint, Basil Mint, Ginger Mint  

Number of Varieties
20  
99+
600  
18

Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions  
Banks, Near organic waste disposal, Roadsides, Stream side  

USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11  
4-8  

AHS Heat Zone
12-9  
8-1  

Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  
A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming  
Spreading  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
90.00 cm  
99+
20.30 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
60.00 cm  
99+
40.60 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
White  
Light Blue, Lavender, Blue Violet  

Flower Color Modifier
-  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Light Red  
-  

Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green  
Green, Light Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green  
Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green  
Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green  
Light Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate  
Arrowhead  

Thorns
Yes  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Summer, Fall  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Growth Rate
Slow  
Fast  

Type of Soil
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Indeterminate  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer  

Repeat Bloomer
Yes  
Yes  

Tolerances
Shade areas  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot  
Container, Ground, Pot  

How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction  
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting  

Plant Maintenance
Low  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry  
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Lots of watering  

In Spring
Moderate  
Moderate  

In Winter
Average Water  
Average Water  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Type
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts  
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, fertilize in fall, fertilize in spring  

Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies  
Red blotch  

Plant Tolerance
Shade areas  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Yes  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
Yes  
No  

Edible Fruit
Yes  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
Yes  
Yes  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
Yes  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
Yes  

Showy Foliage
Yes  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Glossy  
Matte  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
Sometimes  

Self-Sowing
No  
Yes  

Attracts
Birds  
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds  

Allergy
Toxic  
Anaesthesia, Irritation to urinary tract  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes  
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
No  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
Cough, Menstrual Disorders, Nerve pain  

Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits  
Leaves  

Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Oil is used in mosquito repellents  

Used As Indoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical  
Container, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa  
NEPETA mussinii  

Common Name
Carissia  
Catmint  

In Hindi
Carissa  
कटमींट  

In German
carissa  
Katzenminze  

In French
carissa  
Catmint  

In Spanish
carissa  
catmint  

In Greek
carissa  
catmint  

In Portuguese
carissa  
nêveda  

In Polish
carissa  
catmint  

In Latin
carissa  
nepetae mixtam  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Magnoliopsida  

Order
Gentianales  
Lamiales  

Family
Apocynaceae  
Lamiaceae  

Genus
Carissa  
Nepeta  

Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots  
Angiosperms, Eudicots  

Tribe
Carisseae  
Nepeteae  

Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae  
-  

Number of Species
100  
99+
1  

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of Carissa and Catmint

Wondering what are the properties of Carissa and Catmint? We provide you with everything About Carissa and Catmint. Carissa has thorns and Catmint doesn't have thorns. Also Carissa does not have fragrant flowers. Carissa has allergic reactions like Toxic and Catmint has allergic reactions like Toxic. Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of Carissa and Catmint and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

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Season and Care of Carissa and Catmint

Season and care of Carissa and Catmint is important to know. While considering everything about Carissa and Catmint Care, growing season is an essential factor. Carissa season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Catmint season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Carissa is Loam, Sand and for Catmint is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Carissa is Acidic, Neutral and for Catmint is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.

Carissa and Catmint Physical Information

Carissa and Catmint physical information is very important for comparison. Carissa height is 90.00 cm and width 60.00 cm whereas Catmint height is 20.30 cm and width 40.60 cm. The color specification of Carissa and Catmint are as follows:

Care of Carissa and Catmint

Care of Carissa and Catmint include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Carissa pruning is done Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Catmint pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Carissa needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Catmint needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.

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