Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Europe, Asia
Types
Yellow Birch, Paper Birch, River Birch
Nepeta cataria
Number of Varieties
4020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hills, Moist Soils
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-93-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
7-1
Sunset Zone
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
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
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
2,133.60 cm980.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
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
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize twice a year, Nitrogen
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought, Frost
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Birds
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Boils, bowel syndrome, Combats Stress, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Heart problems, Kidney Stones, Osteoarthritis, Skin Disorders, Urinary tract problems
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves, Sap
Whole plant
Other Uses
Medicinal oil, Used as essential oil
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra 'Studetec'
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch
Cat Nip, Catnip
In Hindi
काले बर्च वृक्ष
कटनीप
In German
Schwarze Birke
Katzenminze
In French
Noir Bouleau
cataire
In Spanish
Negro del árbol de abedul
Catnip
In Greek
Μαύρο Birch Tree
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
Bétula Preto
catnip
In Polish
Czarny Brzoza
Kocimiętka
In Latin
Niger Caerulus
catnip
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Lamiales
Family
Betulaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Betula
Nepeta
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Mentheae
Subfamily
-
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
40250
1
27800
👆🏻