Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Europe, Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Nepeta cataria
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
3-7
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
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
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
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 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 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
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
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
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification
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
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
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
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Lamiales
Family
Portulacaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Nepeta
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Nepetoideae
Importance of Elephant Bush and Catnip
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Catnip. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush 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 Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat whereas of Catnip is Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines and Upset stomach. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Catnip has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Elephant Bush 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 Elephant Bush 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 Elephant Bush are 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. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Catnip has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Catnip is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Catnip facts and facts of other plants too.