Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Herbs
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Asia
Types
Perennial
Nepeta cataria
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
3-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Frost
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
Skin irritation
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Root
Whole plant
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Making Perfumes, Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Cat Nip, Catnip
In Hindi
African Iris
कटनीप
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Katzenminze
In French
African Iris
cataire
In Spanish
Iris africano
Catnip
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
Iris africano
catnip
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Kocimiętka
In Latin
African Iris
catnip
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Lamiales
Family
Iridaceae
Lamiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Nepetoideae
Importance of African Iris and Catnip
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Catnip. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Catnip as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of African Iris is whereas of Catnip is Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines and Upset stomach. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Catnip has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Catnip
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of African Iris vs Catnip and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of African Iris are Skin irritation whereas of Catnip have Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Catnip has no showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Catnip is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Catnip facts and facts of other plants too.