Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Herbs
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Nepeta cataria
Number of Varieties
3020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-123-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
7-1
Sunset Zone
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
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm980.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Frost
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
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
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Cat Nip, Catnip
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
कटनीप
In German
Elephant Bush
Katzenminze
In French
Elephant Bush
cataire
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Catnip
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
catnip
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Kocimiętka
In Latin
bush elephant
catnip
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Lamiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Nepeta
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Mentheae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
1250
1
27800
👆🏻