Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Europe, Asia
Middle Africa
Types
Nepeta cataria
Perennial Grass
Habitat
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-7
7-11
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
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
White, Lavender
Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Sandy Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green, Gray
Purple
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
Purple
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Purple
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Long Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
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
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Insects, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Frost
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Birds, Flying insects
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Asthma, breathing problems
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
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
Food for animals, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
NEPETA cataria
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
Common Name
Cat Nip, Catnip
Elephant Grass
In German
Katzenminze
Elefantengras
In French
cataire
l'herbe à éléphant
In Spanish
Catnip
pasto elefante
In Greek
Είδος δυόσμου
ελέφαντα χόρτο
In Portuguese
catnip
capim-elefante
In Polish
Kocimiętka
trawa słoniowa
In Latin
catnip
elephanti herba
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Panicoideae
Importance of Catnip and Elephant Grass
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Catnip and Elephant Grass. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Catnip and Elephant Grass 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 Catnip is Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines and Upset stomach whereas of Elephant Grass is Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders and Wounds. Catnip has beauty benefits as follows: while Elephant Grass has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Catnip vs Elephant Grass
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 Catnip vs Elephant Grass 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 Catnip are Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain and Vomiting whereas of Elephant Grass have Asthma and breathing problems respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Catnip has no showy fruits and Elephant Grass has no showy fruits. Also Catnip is not flowering and Elephant Grass is not flowering . You can compare Catnip and Elephant Grass facts and facts of other plants too.