Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Herbs
Origin
Europe, Asia
Southern Europe
Types
Nepeta cataria
Melissa officinalis
Number of Varieties
205
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-74-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12-1
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
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
980.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Lavender
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Sandy Brown
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green, Gray
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil
Deer resistant, Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Frost
Deer resistant, Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
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
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Bees
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers, Leaves
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
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
NEPETA cataria
MELISSA officinalis
Common Name
Cat Nip, Catnip
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
In Hindi
कटनीप
नींबू बाम
In German
Katzenminze
Lemonbalm
In French
cataire
mélisse
In Spanish
Catnip
Lemonbalm
In Greek
Είδος δυόσμου
Lemonbalm
In Portuguese
catnip
Lemonbalm
In Polish
Kocimiętka
Lemonbalm
In Latin
catnip
CITRAGO
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Lamiales
Family
Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Nepeta
Melissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Mentheae
-
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
2504
1
27800
👆🏻